F1 Rumor: Former Driver to be Awarded ‘Keys To The City’ Honor at Austin

Former Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, who remains without a seat after his ousting from Red Bull’s junior team VCARB, will be handed the “Keys to the City” honor. While the ceremony was scheduled for the upcoming United States Grand Prix weekend, his departure from the team has delayed the event.

The 2024 Formula 1 season proved difficult for the Australian driver, as he consistently struggled to score points and was often overshadowed by his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. Ricciardo’s lackluster results led VCARB to announce his departure after the Singapore Grand Prix. He was replaced by Liam Lawson, who had impressed with strong performances as Ricciardo’s reserve driver the previous year.

Ricciardo has cemented his status as a beloved figure among American fans, thanks to his charismatic nature and deep appreciation for U.S. culture. Whether it’s his iconic cowboy-inspired appearances or his infectious enthusiasm, the former Red Bull driver has built a strong following, particularly in Austin.

Formula 1 photographer Kym Illman revealed on Instagram that Ricciardo could be invited to the Circuit of the Americas for the “Keys to the City” ceremony. However, it is unlikely that he will make it to the Grand Prix this weekend. He wrote:

“It was planned for Daniel Ricciardo to be honoured by the city of Austin with the “Keys to the City” during next weekend’s US GP. However, given the Aussie driver was relieved of his driving duties by VCarb after the last race, he will almost certainly not be in attendance at COTA.

“The organisers of the event know only too well how big a drawcard Daniel was for Austin but I understand at some point down the track, the city will make good with the offer and present him with the ceremonial keys to Austin.”

According to a report from GPFans, the ceremony to honor Ricciardo has been postponed due to his departure from VCARB. As a result, he will be invited to attend the ceremony at a later date.

Bobby Epstein, chairman of Circuit of the Americas (COTA), recognizes the star power Ricciardo brings to an event like the United States Grand Prix, expressing his hope for the driver’s presence at this weekend’s race. He told the media:

“Daniel, he may be able to have just as big an impact out of the car as he has in it at our grand prix.

“I’m not sure that necessarily people are buying tickets to come see him race if he’s not in a competitive car, right?

“So if you’re coming because he’s part of the F1 community, I think he can still be part of the F1 community in a pretty meaningful way.

“He’s really, really loved in Texas, and I think he likes it here.

“And so I would hope that he makes himself available more to the fans than he would otherwise be if he had an obligation in the car.

“I hope he’s still coming here, because we’ve got a lot of people who would love to shake his hand or get his autograph or take a picture. Just see him around town. We’ll keep him busy.”