Daniel Ricciardo has been named by ESPN as part of their commentary team for the remaining North American Formula One races this season.
Ricciardo will host “The Grandstand” alongside actor and comedian Will Arnett at the Canadian, United States and Las Vegas Grands Prix.
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The former McLaren driver will be present at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, while Arnett will commentate remotely.
The broadcasts are being produced with Omaha Productions, owned by former NFL star Peyton Manning.
“This is going to be a hoot!” Ricciardo said.
”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 has previously starred in TV shows Arrested Development and 30 Rock, and said he was “really looking forward to doing this show with Daniel.”
“The more I learn about Formula One, the more I‘m intrigued by it,” Arnett said.
“The opportunity to work with Mika [Hakkinen, two-time F1 champion] 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.”
ESPN’s VP of Production, Kate Jackson, said Ricciardo would stand out on television with his personality and knowledge of the sport.
“As Formula 1’s popularity continues to grow in the United States, we’re pleased to provide fans with another way to enjoy the sport, and a way for new fans to learn more about it,” Jackson said.
“Daniel’s effervescent personality will resonate on television, as will his hands-on knowledge.
“And we’re very excited to be working with Will. He will bring the perspective of a dedicated fan of F1 to the telecasts as well as his unique and humorous way of appreciating F1. It will be a great combination.”
Ricciardo recently admitted that his return to Red Bull as the team’s reserve driver reignited his love for the sport after a miserable stint with McLaren that drove him down a darker path.
Ricciardo has been open about the fact he was mentally burnt out and in need of a break at the end of last year, saying he wasn’t eating as much.
“I don’t want to like go too far and be like, ‘Yeah, I was depressed’ or whatever but I certainly wasn’t always eating as much,” Ricciardo said.
“I think I just wasn’t feeling right. I was honestly just not like my happy self, not my normal self.
“I think as well so much was going on last year, I could feel like I had this kind of nervous energy inside me. I didn’t have an appetite as much. I was just a bit scattered. So yeah, there was certainly some of that. So I was a little thin.”
“I’m getting enough of a break where I feel certainly refreshed and happy again,” he said.
“But it’s kind of also reminded of me how cool this environment was and what it’s like to be in a place that I feel I can hopefully get back to a podium.”
