‘No interest’: Ricciardo’s response to F1 return offer as list sparks speculation over Perez exit

Daniel Ricciardo has “no interest” in a return to Formula 1 via the sport’s newest team.

Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

The Australian star is reportedly at the top of the list of targets for Cadillac, who will come into the sport for the 2026 season, run by General Motors and Andretti.

But ESPN said on Saturday, based on sources close to Ricciardo, he “has not been contacted and he has no interest” in returning via the new team.

Ricciardo “considers his Formula 1 career to be over” after failing to earn the spot as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate during his 2024 stint with RB, according to the report.

Given his popularity Ricciardo is sure to have serious interest across the motorsport world with Toyota reportedly willing to give the West Aussie a “blank cheque” to be part of their organisation, which does not include an F1 seat.

With Ricciardo out of the picture three seats remain unclear on the 2025 F1 grid, all of them in the Red Bull family.

On the official FIA 2025 F1 World Championship entry list, published on Saturday, Sergio Perez was listed as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate.

Yuki Tsunoda was placed in RB, where he has featured since his debut in the sport, with the second seat most recently filled by Kiwi Liam Lawson vacant.

Red Bull is believed to be days away from making a call on who will partner Verstappen with Lawson viewed by many as the frontrunner.

However the financial situation with Perez, who brings tens of millions of dollars to the team through sponsorships and has a contract for 2025, is complicated.

It’s thought that Red Bull is working through a buyout for the Mexican veteran.

Lawson graduating to the senior team seat would see Tsunoda remain at RB and be partnered by a new driver, potentially F2 championship runner-up Isack Hajdar, who finished behind Haas-bound Gabriel Bortoleto in the junior series.