09 June 2023 , 10:25
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Daniel Ricciardo is set for a TV role for three F1 races this season alongside actor Will Arnett.
Ricciardo is currently Red Bull's third driver after his contract at McLaren was terminated a year early and the much-loved Australian driver is now dipping his toe into broadcasting with ESPN.
The 33-year-old and Arnett, who used to host a podcast with two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen but is best known for starring in Arrested Development, 30 Rock and The Lego Movie series, will host 'The Grandstand with Daniel Ricciardo and Will Arnett' on ESPN.
The show will debut at the Canadian Grand Prix next weekend and two further editions are set for the United States Grand Prix in October and the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.
Ricciardo will join the broadcast from Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next weekend, while Arnett will be at a remote location. "This is going to be a hoot!" Ricciardo said of his new endeavour.
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"As you'd expect Will and I are going to have some fun with the show, but we're hoping it just feels like you're watching F1 with your mates. We will have some amazing guests, plenty of laughs and with some luck, bring fans another step closer to the sport I love so much. Buckle up America!"
Arnett, meanwhile, added: "The more I learn about Formula One, the more I'm intrigued by it. The opportunity to work with Mika on my podcast was fantastic, and I'm really looking forward to doing this show with Daniel. We're going to have fun, and so will the viewers."
Ricciardo will host the telecasts alongside new F1 fan and actor Will Arnett (David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Ricciardo is hoping to secure a race seat next year and Red Bull chief Christian Horner recently revealed he was set for an F1 test soon to ensure his skills remain sharp. "Well, we brought him back because I felt that, you know, Daniel wasn't done with Formula 1. And to see him just whimper out of the sport wouldn't have been right," Horner told NPR.
"So I think he fell out of love with Formula 1 over the last couple of years. Certainly, the Daniel that came back at the end of last year wasn't one that we recognize, you know? The big smile and the big personality. And I think he's gradually re-finding his love for the sport.
"He's finding his passion for driving again. We'll see where that... what opportunities that presents for him. But I think the first thing for him is to rediscover his mojo, his passion for the sport and his inner dog. So we're going to give him a test in a few weeks' time and see what he does."