Daniel Ricciardo admitted he felt emotional at the end of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, as he is widely expected to be replaced before the next race.
The RB driver waited before climbing out of the cockpit of his car after finishing today’s race in last place.He gambled on starting on soft tyres after qualifying a lowly 16th, hoping a Safety Car appearance early in the race might help him. However the race ran without interruption and Ricciardo was told to let his team mate Yuki Tsunoda past him at one stage.
“It was a tough race,” a tearful Ricciardo told the official F1 channel. “I think obviously any time you’re out in Q1 you know you have potentially a long day and had to try something with strategy.
“You never know here, with a Safety Car, it could work in your favour. Obviously there wasn’t a Safety Car today so obviously our strategy then came a little undone.”
His team mate Yuki Tsunoda fell four places to finish in 12th. Ricciardo doubts they had the potential to score points in Singapore.
“I think ultimately we just weren’t quite quick enough,” he said. “I don’t know the full picture of Yuki’s race, but I saw he also finished out of the points so perhaps we just didn’t have the overall pace in the race stints.”
Amid speculation Liam Lawson will replace him at RB in time for the United States Grand Prix next month, Ricciardo said he spent a while in his car’s cockpit after the race to savour the moment.
“There’s a lot of emotions because I’m aware it could be it,” he said. “I think it’s also just exhausted after the race. Just like a flood of many emotions and feelings and exhaustion and the cockpit is something that I got very, very used to for many years and I just wanted to savour the moment.”
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2024 Singapore Grand Prix
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- F1’s rules need surgery as well as sticking plaster after fastest lap controversy
AbeyG (@1abe)
22nd September 2024, 16:15
Atleast Ricciardo spent a while in his car to “savour the moment.” De Vries didn’t even get that. And unlike Ricciardo, De Vries may never get a second opportunity.
Andrew
22nd September 2024, 18:58
And…..
Ambrogio Isgro
22nd September 2024, 21:55
Well, Ricciardo won several gps with Red Bull, so he deserved a second chance.
For some years he was one of the best F1 drivers.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 12:48
I’d have given another opportunity at williams to de vries: he did well there, didn’t at toro rosso, so last chance at a car you did well at, if you don’t you’re out of f1, better than what happened for him at least, since it’s not like sargeant was exceptional either.
Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
22nd September 2024, 16:28
F1 driver lying about his performance? Can not be, I’m sure Red Bull will regret letting such a superstar go, just like Mclaren surely does. Hopefully F1 takes Money Badger on board and he becomes F1 Official Mascot or F1 Official Jester.
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd September 2024, 16:31
Reading between the lines from his interviews, he indeed almost certainly drove in an F1 race for the last time, & already knew or had a strong indication about that beforehand, despite choosing his words carefully & in an indirect manner.
Simon
22nd September 2024, 18:21
Or
“reading between the lines of the word salad above, Ricciardo knew Singapore 2024 would be his final race start”
Coventry Climax
22nd September 2024, 18:35
Oh come on, there was no room whatsoever for any other interpretation of his words when asked about it in the press pen.
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd September 2024, 13:49
Coverty Climax Indeed, which was my point.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
22nd September 2024, 16:31
I guess it really is it. 8 wins and 3 poles, 2014 – 2016 suddenly seems a long time ago. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of job offers doing all kinds of things, and he can’t complain that he was never given an opportunity. I’m sure he’d rather it ended differently, I’m not sure why it matters that drivers go out on their ‘own terms’, that he didn’t shouldn’t really matter. But after a few years of nothing, getting kicked out of the RB mid season, I dunno….. it all seems a bit of a pity. I wish him all the best of course.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 12:59
Well, he was also competitive in 2017 and 2018, won races in those years too, as well as the one-off race win at monza 2021, which was on merit.
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
22nd September 2024, 16:42
The speculation in the paddock is that there may be a clause in Liam Lawson’s contract that guaranteed him a few races in 2024 if he was going to be given a race seat in 2025.
The other speculation is that despite public comments Liam Lawson was told he’d be getting a 2025 race seat months ago & that the only evaluation going on with Ricciardo was in relation to potentially replacing Perez at Red Bull. However given how even when he’s been faster than Yuki Tsunoda it hasn’t been by as much as was expected the chances of that happening began to change.
It seems that people within Red Bull Racing (Especially Christian Horner) don’t really think much of Yuki Tsunoda & that they were expecting Daniel to blow him away and when he didn’t rather than starting to think more highly of Yuki they instead began thinking much less of Daniel.
Antz (@antznz)
22nd September 2024, 23:46
@gt-racer I think Yuki’s radio messages today are an example of why he’s not being promoted. Gasly behaved similarly at the main team and they’re weary of repeating this for a number 2. I’m sure they’ll tolerate it for anyone capable of beating Max. They signed Yuki very early so they clearly value him. If Max left at the end of the season I would put money on Yuki instantly being promoted.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
23rd September 2024, 0:28
@antznz I was of the understanding that Yuki got the seat because of his Honda ties.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:04
IMO there’s absolutely no way they could replace verstappen with tsunoda, they’d have to look outside their drivers, trying to lure piastri or something, and obviously no driver will give them back what they lost.
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd September 2024, 13:51
@antznz The impending Honda PU supply end after next season is clearly another factor for Red Bull’s apparent reluctance to hand him a main team promotion.
Ideals
22nd September 2024, 16:43
What could have been had he not gotten it into his head in 2017 that he could drive for another top team. Once both Mercedes and Ferrari passed on signing him he just got into the mindset that he had to leave Red Bull regardless. Sure, he would’ve likely still be beaten by Max, but he would be leaving with a lot more pole positions and race wins regardless and a much rosier career retrospective.
A shame really, hope he goes into punditry and joins F1TV for some color commentary.
uzsjgb (@uzsjgb)
22nd September 2024, 20:26
With “rosier career retrospective” you mean how we view Perez, Barrichello or Massa? Giving up your own ambitions to become a number 2 driver? I can’t even be bothered to look up if these guys have more wins than Ricciardo.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
22nd September 2024, 22:40
Massa, pre-accident, was unquestionably one of the top drivers in Formula 1 and had equal chance with Raikkonen in 2007-2009 to fight for the championship. In 2007, despite starting as an equal contender, Massa shifted to support Räikkönen in the final races after falling out of championship contention.
His moment came in 2008 where he narrowly missed becoming a world champion. It’s worth to mention that Massa’s bid was hampered by several misfortunes, such as the pit stop debacle in Singapore and an engine failure just three laps from victory in the Hungarian GP. In 2009 Ferrari produced a dog of a car, yet Massa was outperforming Räikkönen before his horrific accident in Hungary.
Chris Horton
23rd September 2024, 9:52
Absolutely.
Massa’s bid in 2007 also came to an end with a suspension failure at Monza iirc.
I honestly think the “post accident” thing is blown out of proportion. I feel like Alonso is being underestimated. Felipe simply wasn’t as good as him, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Massa is a class act and was a great Grand Prix driver.
MichaelN
23rd September 2024, 11:24
It’s fair to highlight Massa’s form in those years; he was no ‘#2 driver’ at all.
But that also raises some questions about his teammate, Räikkönen. I think he never really got over the habits he learned with the Michelin tyres. He was undoubtedly the faster driver at McLaren (on Michelin) with both Coulthard and Montoya. But then from 2007 onwards, he was pretty even with Massa (on Bridgestone), and when he returned (on Pirelli) he was no match for Alonso nor Vettel.
That two-and-a-half year period at Ferrari definitely increased Massa’s reputation, but in retrospect, perhaps it was also the first years of Räikkönen’s post-Michelin form. Makes one think how good those 2012 and 2013 Enstone/Lotus cars were!
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:09
Good point, I think the truth is indeed raikkonen was no longer as good as he was at mclaren, and as for the lotus 2012 car, I believe f1 metrics, a blog where the author uses mathematical models that usually work pretty well for predictions, says that car was good enough to win the championship with a stronger driver such as alonso.
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
22nd September 2024, 16:44
He exclaimed he was going to kick his team mates butt and he failed miserably.
The only highlight having left Red Bull was having team orders at McLaren give him the 2021 Italian GP win.
Axel
22nd September 2024, 21:28
This seems a bit too sour. He had some stellar drives with Renault and definitely was a top, top driver until his move to McLaren. After that he only showed glimpses of his former self. But he definitely had more highlights than Monza 2021, where he earned that victory even if team orders were used. Everyone acts like Lando would have flown by without them, but we saw nothing but parades and people stuck behind others with slightly slower pace that race. IMO the only thing that might be considered to have ‘given’ him that win is Verstappen taking Hamilton out when he was about to go on a charge on the softer tyres.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:12
And if you check the situation with the undercuts and such you will notice that ricciardo had verstappen (who was furthest ahead of the 2 before the slow pit stop) under control, he only really would’ve had to defend for the rest of the race, as he successfully did earlier on.
Verstappen would’ve also been aware he couldn’t afford to crash with ricciardo and gift the win to hamilton, and might have had more reason to settle with a 2nd place rather than going for a super risky move.
Bob2 (@bob2)
23rd September 2024, 6:23
So the race he lead all laps for (except during the pitstop cycle) was given to him by team orders? That’s a fairly obtuse view of events.
Explain how he unfairly beat Norris at the next race :)
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
23rd September 2024, 11:47
Apart from a little bump in 2020 finishing 5th in WDC his trajectory has been downward since 2017.
2016, 3rd
2017, 5th
2018, 6th
2019, 9th
2020, 5th
2021, 8th
2022, 11th
2023, 17th
2024, 14th*
Ocon and Gasly also benefitted from errors by Hamilton and Mercedes.
It could well be the heavy cars don’t suit his old driving style and he has never captured that form. It is not a slight on him as he is of course an excellent driver but you cannot live on the results you posted back in 2016 indefinitely, IMO.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:15
Let’s see, the 2017 position compared to 2016 can be explained by ferrari becoming the better car and being the only contender to mercedes, then 2018 basically no difference (if you want a reason, there’s terrible reliability that season for ricciardo), 2019 the reason is leaving red bull and going to a midfield renault car, 2020 he got the hang of the car, and then ofc he could’ve done way better at mclaren, but we already knew.
2023 is unfair, he only competed in a few races.
David BR (@david-br)
22nd September 2024, 17:06
Remembering those races from his Red Bull career when he’d brake late and pass, imagining that huge Ricciardo smile under the helmet and some funny comment. Sigh. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
BamBoomBots
22nd September 2024, 19:27
Nice Blade Runner reference
David BR (@david-br)
22nd September 2024, 21:05
Thanks :)
I’ve always been a big fan of Ricciardo, man and late braking style. I’ll be genuinely sad to see him leave F1, even if I thought him leaving Red Bull was a big mistake (and a pity) even at the time.
Antz (@antznz)
23rd September 2024, 0:00
He was never going to win a title. He compromised his legacy & wins for a boatload of cash Red Bull was never going to give him… I like the guy and I’m sad he’s going but he’s set for life. Reflecting now, I would say, he’s been far better paid than any other F1 driver of similar ability. If I was him I wouldn’t change a thing. RB would have dropped him when he was scoring half of Max’s points. No big pay cheques.
Plus I’m super hyped for Liam!! Makes it a little less sad.
David BR (@david-br)
23rd September 2024, 12:51
@antznz I really don’t know, he seemed like a Rosberg to Verstappen’s Hamilton. Close enough to be a nuisance and win some races and, given the right circumstance, win a title. Obviously ardent Max fans will insist he’s much better than LH and would never let anyone else win a title. But we can’t really know how the team dynamics and car would evolve in subsequent years, maybe a Webber-like case (versus Vettel) of decline, maybe a persistent bubbling challenge to Max. I get your point about the money though, it clearly was a factor.
MichaelN
22nd September 2024, 17:13
Red Bull has had such a lol-season. It’s only Verstappen’s brilliance that is keeping it from being a complete disaster.
Curiously, unlike in pretty much any other sport – or even team in F1 – the team principal gets zero tough questions. It’s always someone else’s fault.
Luke S (@joeypropane)
22nd September 2024, 20:27
To be fair, Horner has had PLENTY of tough questions over the past year… Problem has been his answers.
Chappy
22nd September 2024, 17:54
indicar is waiting with arms and wallet open rickyy!!
Johns
22nd September 2024, 18:14
I hope he get a chance to drive for Andretti’s F1 team.
Coventry Climax
22nd September 2024, 18:39
But honesty compels me to say I hope Andretti find better drivers – if they’re ever allowed in.
The Dolphins
23rd September 2024, 5:53
If F1 cared about the health of the sport they would clamp down on the two Red Bull teams and Andretti can buy VCARB and hire Daniel
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
22nd September 2024, 20:44
I’ll remember him at his very best, when he was truly among the top 3 drivers in the grid, if not the strongest at times. In my years watching F1, I can’t remember a driver that changed so much, so quickly, from brilliant to bang on average. Maybe the bored raikkonen of 08/09. Or Vettel in the latter part of his Ferrari stint. But even then both had great moments. Danny never recovered from that horrible McLaren experience…
He at least tried his best. And won a good number of GPs. Sad he was never a contender for a championship
David BR (@david-br)
22nd September 2024, 23:16
@fer-no65 I’m wary of citing him, but Horner was right to say the Red Bull really suited Ricciardo’s driving (in a way Pérez totally doesn’t suit the car).
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:19
If you’re talking great moments of declining drivers, you can’t discount monza 2021, a win on merit for ricciardo (even without hamilton-verstappen retiring).
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
23rd September 2024, 20:04
A very isolated one.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:20
Just like raikkonen’s win in monza 2018 for example.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd September 2024, 13:21
Sorry, monza 2018 was a great race for raikkonen, but went the wrong way due to being alone vs 2 mercedes (gj vettel), was talking about austin.