If Daniel Ricciardo wants a shot at conquering Mount Panorama in the Bathurst 1000, he only has to say so.
The charismatic Australian driver’s Formula One career may be over but the door to a Supercars stint is wide open, Supercars chief Shane Howard said on Thursday.
Eight-time F1 race winner Ricciardo was let go by Red Bull Racing in September ahead of the US Grand Prix following a disappointing 2024 campaign, bringing his 14-year-long F1 career to an end in controversial fashion.
The fact he was brutally cut straight after the Singapore Grand Prix meant he won’t receive a proper farewell from the sport.
While most of the speculation around the 35-year-old’s future has linked him to a potential move to IndyCar or NASCAR in the US, Howard issued an open invitation to Ricciardo as the Supercars championship prepares for Sunday’s showpiece Bathurst 1000.
Ricciardo has spoken previously about wanting an opportunity to compete for the title of King of the Mountain at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit.
He has also sampled Supercars machinery in previous years.
The touring car competition offered him a seat in 2022, when he was struggling during his time at McLaren behind No.1 driver Lando Norris.
Daniel Ricciardo (pictured at his final F1 grand prix in Singapore last month) now has a standing invite to contest the Bathurst 1000
Held at the world-famous Mount Panorama circuit, the 1000 is Australia’s motor sport holy grail – and Supercars boss Shane Howard is desperate to get Ricciardo on the track (pictured, Brodie Kostecki at Bathurst last year)
The West Australian got behind the wheel of a specially prepared Holden Sandman V8 Supercar in 2016 after getting a few tips from seven-time series champion Jamie Whincup.
He also took former driver Rick Kelly’s Nissan Supercar for a spin in 2019.
‘If Daniel’s listening, we want you to race here,’ Howard said on Thursday.
‘Wouldn’t that be fantastic? To have someone of Daniel Ricciardo’s quality as a driver.
‘He’s got an enormous personality. To have him in one of our cars would be very special.
‘We’ve got an open invite to Daniel.’
Howard said earlier this month Supercars would reach out to Ricciardo’s management at an appropriate time following his F1 axing.
Ricciardo has been replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson, 22, for the remainder of the F1 season.
