Daniel Ricciardo: Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda tells executives to sign Aussie star at all cost

Australia’s Formula One superstar Daniel Ricciardo is reportedly the subject of a “whatever it takes” bid to lure him to a rival code that could see him race in the Australian Supercars series.

The chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation, Akio Toyoda, has reportedly told his executive team that Ricciardo is the perfect fit to take Toyota’s brand forward in NASCAR and Supercars with a massive bid to lure the Aussie being formulated.

Reports in Race.news are quoting sources close to the Toyota inner-sanctum as saying a starting point bid of $US10 million will be tabled to Ricciardo if he makes the jump from F1 to head up Toyota’s continued push into the US via NASCAR and Australia via the Supercars series in 2026..

Toyoda allegedly chaired a ‘behind closed doors’ meeting to discuss his desire for Ricciardo to join Toyota, and it seems money will be no object.

“I’ve been told that Toyoda-san can see his (Ricciardo) value, not just as a driver, but as someone who can drag in the fans in huge numbers because of his natural charisma,” the Toyota source said.

“He (Toyoda) can’t see any downside with having him as the face of Gazoo Racing which really is his pet project.

“And, from what has been told to me, it’s almost a blank cheque operation to get him to say yes.”

Rumours have circled since Ricciardo was axed by Red Bull following the Singapore Grand Prix that he may make a return as the driver merry-go-round ramped up.Sergio Perez who has been in the top-tier team with Max Verstappen this year has struggled to stay relevant and RBR principal Christian Horner has dropped many hints that the Mexican driver will be out the door now the season has ended.

Horner is an unabashed Ricciardo fan and continues to talk glowingly about his former star only fuelling speculation about his return.

Toyoda it seems hold the Australian in equal esteem and is reportedly keen on signing Ricciardo, not just for his driving skills, “but as someone who can drag in fans in huge numbers because of his natural charisma.”

Perez alternatively seems to be digging as his future remains uncertain, and he fielded reporters’ questions after the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi where he failed to finish.

“Well, at the moment, I don’t know. I just know that I’ve got a contract to race next year. And unless something changes in the coming days, that’s going to be the situation for next year,” Perez said.

“It is something to ask Red Bull. I think at the moment all I can say is that I got a contract that I signed up in the middle of the year to race for the team for the next two years. So, we’ll see what happens and how the conversation goes in the coming days.

“We are talking to try and see what’s best moving forwards. We’ll see what happens in the coming days. We’re going to be talking in the coming days and we will discuss what the situation is from both parties and see if we are able to reach an agreement.

“If not, like I said, I’ve got a contract for next year. [And] no [I have no intention of resigning].”