Daniel Ricciardo has landed a deal to co-host a telecast at three Formula 1 events in 2023.
Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo will return to the F1 weekends on television after it was revealed he was going to host a new Formula 1 telecast program for ESPN this season.
The well recognized and ever smiling Australian has not been able to secure a Formula 1 seat since exiting McLaren at the end of 2022, and even though this season he’s back at Red Bull as a reserve driver, he isn’t officially scheduled for a race.
Fans will now have the opportunity to see the 33-year-old in a telecast, where he will co-host with actor and comedian Will Arnett and present three programs that will air throughout the course of the remaining part of the season. The telecast will debut on June 18 at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.
The regular race telecast will be on ABC, but starting at 1:55 p.m. ET, ESPN2 will air “The Grandstand with Daniel Ricciardo and Will Arnett.” The second and third events will be the United States Grand Prix in Austin on October 22 and the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18.
The show, which is being produced by ESPN in association with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, will build on the success of the groundbreaking and widely praised Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli alternate telecast, which made its debut in 2021 and won an Emmy Award.
“This is going to be a hoot!” said Ricciardo. “As you’d expect Will and I are going to have some fun with the show, but we’re hoping it just feels like you’re watching F1 with your mates.
“We will have some amazing guests, plenty of laughs and with some luck, bring fans another step closer to the sport I love so much. Buckle up America!”
Various guests will be welcomed by Riccardo and Arnett to provide running commentary and conversation about the ongoing race during the show. Ricciardo and Arnett will both join the show from remote locations for the first episode, which will take place on site at the Montreal circuit.
Eight-time grand prix champion Ricciardo recently acknowledged that he will be thinking about his F1 future at the end of the year, possibly hinting at a comeback.
From 2011 through 2022, Ricciardo raced in Formula 1 races on a full-time basis for HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, and McLaren. He joined Red Bull again in 2023 as a third driver, however he will only be present at a few races throughout the year.
If the former Red Bull player managed to make a comeback, it would be to the joy of many fans who have admired his outgoing personality and frequently upbeat demeanor that have helped him win over a worldwide following.
