Daniel Ricciardo says he did all he could in F1 Singapore GP, as he remains realistic that it could be his last and feels at peace with it.
It wasn’t the grand prix that Visa Cash App RB’s Ricciardo wanted to be potentially his last. Already he was knocked out in Q1 in F1 Singapore GP and a bold strategy to start on the soft tyre didn’t really work out in the end for the Australian by any means.
He had to give way to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda on a different strategy and then take the fastest lap in the end, which aided Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in his title fight against Lando Norris. For his efforts, he was chosen as the Driver of the Day by the fans too.
Ricciardo acknowledged the gesture as he knows that the fans do read the media to understand the situation. He feels at peace if it turns out to be his last race, with nothing more he can do now. His idea of trying to get back in Red Bull hasn’t materialised.
And so, another go at reserve is also not in his mind, as he admits that age might be catching up to him and that at 35-years, he is not the same anymore. He doesn’t want to be a stopper guy for a youngster too, with Liam Lawson most likely to take his spot.
While there is no confirmation as of yet about his future in certain, but Ricciardo seemingly treated Singapore GP as his last. He took his time to get out of the car in parc ferme. He got a guard of honour in the paddock by his friends and guests.
Also, he was the last person to leave the paddock too, something that he doesn’t do normally. Red Bull chief Christian Horner didn’t readily said that it is the end, but sounded like that there is a big picture beyond Ricciardo which they have to see.
Race, team orders –
Ricciardo: “We tried softs, trying to be a bit more aggressive at the start and knew it’d be a bit of a tricky place to overtake. So we never know what happens on Lap 1. Our starts haven’t been great this year and we’re on the dirty side so we thought, OK, if we put a hard on we’re probably going to go backwards, so let’s put a soft on and see where it takes us and if it doesn’t do much for us we can try and pit early and maybe undercut a few cars. Look, at the end of the day we weren’t quick enough. I don’t know the full picture of Yuki’s race but also saw he was out of the points; maybe that’s also some confirmation that we didn’t quite have it.
“I got told when I crossed the start/finish line, ‘okay, let Yuki by before Turn 7’, and I did. So, I never challenged it. I knew he was on a better tyre. Honestly, I knew the call was inevitable, I was just waiting for the team to tell me, if he’s a bit unhappy, that’s something we will talk about with the team in debrief but from my side, I obviously wasn’t in the position, I was out of position and I wasn’t trying to ruin his race by any means. I knew the call was coming and when it came, I made it as easy as I could for him.”
Last race then –
Ricciardo: “Look, obviously there is a realistic chance that it’s not going to happen. I think obviously it’s been a very race-by-race situation with Red Bull, I think for all of us, in a way, obviously Checo as well. And at times it feels like it’s going one way, then it goes the other. And obviously there was a lot of emphasis on this weekend, and I would have loved a better weekend, and who knows if that would have changed anything, or if the decision’s been made already, even prior to the weekend, do you know what I mean? I’m obviously prepared for it, and that’s why I think, over the weekend, I just tried to acknowledge a few things as well with myself. And I think acknowledged also why I came back into the sport. Sometimes you’ve got to see a big picture.
“I always said I don’t want to be a guy who’s just here on the grid and fighting for a point every now and then, which has kinda been how this year’s gone. Obviously this year the purpose was to try and do good enough to get back into Red Bull and fight for wins again, see if I’ve still got it. I felt like I came up short with that, so I think it’s then, ‘OK, what else am I fighting for here? What else is going to give me fulfillment?’ I’ve been a young driver as well and at some point I don’t just want to take up space also. Obviously you have to be selfish, but for me if I’m not able to fight at the front with Red Bull, I have to ask myself what am I staying on the grid for? That’s something I’ve also come to peace with.”
Fun end, no reserve –
Ricciardo: “Obviously, I wished we were fighting for a little more in the race but I heard something about 3.5 million dollar bonus for fastest lap or something…Red Bull throwing some crazy numbers around. I tried to obviously enjoy it, a little bit like the end of ’22 with McLaren. I was aware maybe that was my last race, so I tried to enjoy that. I think I’m in a much happier place now in the sport than I was then. So if this is it, let’s say I have a little bit more peace. I’m proud of the career. Obviously, I tried to become World Champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world. I think it is a tall task that we ask from ourselves. And obviously, some achieve it, some don’t. So yeah, in the end, if I came up a little short, I also can’t be too hard on myself. I’m happy with the effort I put in, and I think for that, there’s no sadness or feeling of regret, or what could have been. I think put my best foot forward. Look, last year it obviously made a lot sense to put one foot at the door, the big picture was to try and get back to Red Bull. If I was to do that again, there’s not really…I am not going to re-start my career.
“I’m also 35, and I still showed the pace that I’ve had over the years, but it’s obviously been evident that it’s been harder for me to show it every weekend. And maybe that is a little bit of an age thing. I think it definitely came easier for me when I was 25, as opposed to 35, but also maybe the competition is just increasing, I think that’s probably a common thing with all sports. Simulators are getting better, the kids are getting younger, and they have access to all onboards now, so they can watch and study everyone. Maybe it’s just the level has increased, and it’s probably a tall task for me to fight at that level, week in, week out. So I can’t be disappointed with that. I think I’m happy that once upon a time, I could do it, and that was a lot of fun. And I also would, if this is it, I want to make sure I walk away, or, let’s say, leave the sport with good memories of it, and it doesn’t get into that place where it’s just a grind, and I’m out in Q1 every weekend. That’s obviously not fun.”
Driver of the day –
Ricciardo: “I’ll be honest, the Driver of the Day normally means not much to us drivers, it is nice but it is not something we brag about. But I think today, obviously, the fans read the media and know that this could be my last one, so I think that is really nice gesture from them. And today, it is appreciated, I do acknowledge that and I thank them for being part of it and acknowledging my efforts and my love for the sport. Obviously, there was a times where it tested me and I wasn’t always treating it ear to ear but I felt like I always tried to have as much fun with it, leave as much as I could on track.”
What say Christian Horner: “Well, we now have got a period of time where we will evaluate all of the relative performances…with the drivers. It is a natural break in the season to reflect on that. There’s a bigger picture beyond Daniel. He is just one part of the jigsaw. We know Daniel very well, we know what he’s capable of, how he drives a car, so we have that knowledge.”
Here’s fastest lap: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/dhl-fastest-lap-award-2024-singapore-grand-prix.1810917149358553627
Here’s post-race paddock moment: https://x.com/F1/status/1837886826188530087
Here’s Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull duo on fastest lap drama
Here’s how F1 Singapore GP panned out
Here’s Daniel Ricciardo and others before Singapore GP weekend
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