A clearly emotional Daniel Ricciardo sounded in Singapore like a person who had simply pushed his final grand prix – but when so, he had bowed out in some type.
The favored Australian eight-race winner, who is anticipated to be ditched by his RB group earlier than the subsequent race in Austin, didn’t deny the rumours after Sunday’s race and spoke like somebody resigned to his days in Formulation One being over.
He sat within the cockpit of his automotive for a very long time after ending 18th on Sunday, admitting later: “Plenty of feelings. I’m conscious it could possibly be it. Simply exhausted after the race, so a flood of feelings and emotions and exhaustion. Simply needed to savour the second.”
However there was satisfaction too within the 35-year-old’s voice as he nonetheless produced one final reminder of his previous excellence with the quickest lap of the day, an effort sympathetically acknowledged by the F1 followers who voted their previous favorite the driving force of the day accolade.
It was additionally a lot appreciated by his previous Purple Bull championship-chasing colleague Max Verstappen, who thanked him over his radio for nicking the fastest-lap level from McLaren title rival and race winner Lando Norris, which can but show essential within the battle to be world champion.
“If Max wins by a degree then I simply assured myself a pleasant Christmas current,” Ricciardo mentioned on Sky Sports activities. To which, Verstappen responded cheerily: “He can ask for no matter he desires.”
The Dutchman, Ricciardo’s teammate at Purple Bull from 2016-2018, provided what seemed like a fond F1 farewell too, as he added: “He will likely be remembered as an incredible driver, as an incredible particular person, and he has an incredible character. It’s very uncommon somebody hates him.
“In a couple of years’ time once I gained’t be right here anymore, we are going to sit again and have a beer and keep in mind all these years collectively.”
There was loads of poignancy as Ricciardo, who is ready to get replaced by New Zealand reserve Liam Lawson, later mentioned: “Whether it is [my last race], I suppose a pleasant solution to say ‘adios’. I’m not too positive what the plan is, however I imply, look, I’ve clearly received a good suggestion.”
His group was hardly denying it both as an RB spokesperson defined that “if it was to be his final race, we needed him to exit on a excessive”.
Ricciardo has had his struggles after transferring to McLaren, then being dropped as they plumped for the rising expertise of Oscar Piastri. This 12 months, he’s been outdriven by RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
“I at all times mentioned I didn’t wish to come again [after McLaren] simply to be on the grid – I needed to battle on the entrance and get again with Purple Bull,” he mentioned. “It didn’t come to fruition. I additionally should ask myself the query of what else might I obtain and what else is there to actually go for?
“I put my greatest foot ahead and possibly the fairytale ending didn’t occur, however I additionally should look again on what it’s been, 13 or so years. I’m proud.”