Daniel Ricciardo confirms paddock return: 'It's going to really hit me hard'

Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed he will be in attendance at the Indianapolis 500 this year, stating he expects the event to “hit me hard”.

Ricciardo has not raced professionally since his outing at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.

He has since declared that he has retired from racing and is focusing on other projects, including being an ambassador of Ford Racing and launching his own wine.

The latter product will be advertised during this year's Indy 500 in collaboration with Conor Daly, who will race for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Ricciardo recently appeared on Daly's Speed Street podcast, where he discussed his attendance at this year's race.

“What you've told me about Indy 500, I've probably never been more excited since I was a kid to go to a race and just be a fan at a race,” Ricciardo said.

“To experience it in the way you speak about it, you've done the European thing, you've travelled the world racing.

“This sounds like... I think it's going to really hit me hard. I'm excited to be a fan.”

The race will take place on May 24, just a handful of hours before the Canadian Grand Prix.

Explaining how the idea of attending the race came about, Ricciardo said: “We started a conversation like 'guys, is there a world we can get Conor more involved? 

“And then pretty much at the same time, I was speaking to my Dad about Indy 500 and it's something he's always wanted to do and always wanted to go to.

“I was like, 'well, let's do it in 2026, let's go to the race'.”