BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Ricciardo has seemingly confirmed his retirement from competitive motorsport less than a year after his last Formula 1 drive, announcing in an open letter that he is to join Ford in an ambassadorial role.

The 36-year-old Australian last competed in F1 at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix with Red Bull's junior RB team, which he had joined in its AlphaTauri guise midway through 2023 after having been dropped by McLaren in 2022.

His comeback was aimed at reclaiming a seat at Red Bull, for whom he raced with distinction between 2014 and 2018, but he failed to impress and was replaced by Liam Lawson before 2024 was out.

While speculation lingered over whether Ricciardo might race in another series, his new role makes clear that his competitive career is over.

"While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high," the eight-time grand prix winner wrote in a letter published Friday by Ford.

"I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador."

Ricciardo added that he would work closely with Ford's racing division, with a particular focus on the Raptor brand.

Ford teased the partnership on Thursday before confirming Ricciardo's new role. The American manufacturer has a wide motorsport presence, including ties to Red Bull's F1 program, a Le Mans hypercar effort and a Dakar Rally entry.

Ricciardo said he first met senior Ford executives in early 2023 while he was serving as Red Bull's reserve driver.

The Australian had hinted at retirement earlier this year, but Friday's announcement marked his clearest statement yet that his racing days are over.

Ricciardo made a total of 257 grand prix starts, making him the most experienced Australian driver in F1 history.

The Perth native began his F1 career midway through 2011 with the backmarker HRT outfit, before spending two seasons at Red Bull's junior team, then called Toro Rosso.

Promotion to the senior Red Bull outfit followed in 2014, and Ricciardo impressed with three grand prix wins that year. Four more wins were to follow over the next few seasons, before the Australian made a surprise switch to Renault for 2019.

Though results at the French outfit were disappointing, Ricciardo's stock in F1 remained high, and he moved to McLaren for 2021, scoring the Woking squad's first win in nine years at that year's Italian Grand Prix.

However, his form tailed off badly in 2022, prompting McLaren to release him a year early to make way for compatriot Oscar Piastri.

Ricciardo then returned to Red Bull as reserve driver, before replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri midway through 2023 in what proved an ultimately disappointing F1 swansong. ■