Wright says Ricciardo not considering racing return after Formula E approach

Jim Wright believes Fortescue Zero Racing made contact with Daniel Ricciardo about a possible Formula E seat. The team principal said he understood the response to be that the Australian was not thinking about returning to racing at the time. At the team’s official launch in London on Friday evening, Wright told RacingNews365 he had not spoken with Ricciardo personally.

Ricciardo has not raced since the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. In September 2025, he confirmed his retirement from motorsport as he took an ambassador role with Ford.

Wright said Ricciardo was occupied with other pursuits he seemed to enjoy. Fortescue did not want to try to persuade him to join the team, Wright said.

Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest gave a separate account of his own contact with Ricciardo at a roundtable with RacingNews365. He said he regarded the Australian as an Australian friend, greeted him and briefly explained what Fortescue was doing; Forrest described that as his only contact with the driver.

At the launch, Fortescue Zero Racing unveiled a black-and-neon-green livery as Formula E’s first Australian team. Fortescue took over Penske Autosport in September; the team is set to use Jaguar Gen4 powertrains from the 2026–27 Formula E season. Wright said the team would be open to a conversation if Ricciardo chose to race again.