Daniel Ricciardo has performed down discuss the Singapore Grand Prix shall be his final Method 1 race – however says he has been round too lengthy to utterly rule it out.
Crimson Bull and RB’s senior administration are set to decide after this weekend’s race in Singapore about their 2025 driver line-up.
And with it trying virtually sure that reserve driver Liam Lawson will get the nod to step as much as RB as Yuki Tsunoda’s team-mate, there has emerged a state of affairs the place the squad elects to make the swap instantly relatively than wait till the beginning of subsequent season.
That will convey the curtain down on Ricciardo’s F1 profession, after a season the place he has loved some good outcomes however equally endured some frustrations.
Ricciardo mentioned he was unaware of there being strikes for RB to change drivers in time for the USA Grand Prix, however equally drew in need of utterly ruling it out.
Talking concerning the swirling hypothesis on his future, the Australian mentioned: “My first expectation is about subsequent yr, in order that’s the place I am for the time being.
“Clearly, I am unable to give too many particulars, however when it comes to contract, yeah, our dates just about come into this window now. So mainly, I do count on a sure or a no for ’25.
“Then, yeah, I am conscious of some discuss and hypothesis about the remainder of the season, however that [being replaced post-Singapore], for me, for the time being, I am unaware of.
“So, the choice I count on is for subsequent yr. However clearly, loopy issues have occurred on this sport, so I am additionally not going to face right here too boastful and assured that, ‘oh yeah’. Like, I imagine I shall be, however let’s have a look at.”
Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Staff VCARB 01
Picture by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Photos
The RB determination after this weekend revolves round components in Lawson’s contract needing to be triggered to make sure he doesn’t change into a free agent.
Requested instantly if there was something in his personal contract that meant Singapore could be his final race, Ricciardo mentioned: “I do not assume so. However I additionally do not need to stand right here and be the lawyer.
“Look, I might say no. But additionally, we all know how this sport works. You recognize, individuals haven’t seen via a season earlier than, so it is nothing new in some methods.
“So, I do not need to even be like, ‘oh, 100% I am going to guess all my home on it’. I have been round too lengthy.”
Probably dropping his drive to Lawson would virtually definitely imply that Ricciardo shall be out of F1 subsequent season – with no different real looking choices on the grid.
And, whereas that might open up alternatives to compete in different classes, he has made clear {that a} swap to race one thing else just isn’t essentially his most well-liked choice.
Requested about different collection, Ricciardo mentioned: “IndyCar nonetheless scares me! Look, I’ve thought of it as a result of I additionally thought of it a pair years in the past once I knew that I wasn’t going to start out the ’23 season.
“However I do know I am nonetheless a competitor. I do know I nonetheless have loads of fireplace in me, however possibly that itch is scratched doing one thing else. I do not know.
“We’ll see. It is exhausting, like even speaking about, simply being within the sport and combating for possibly a tenth place every so often. It is possibly the identical with doing one other collection.
“And no disrespect to different collection, I am a fan of, NASCAR and loads of different types of motorsport, however as a result of I have been there and skilled the best of highs, will I get true fulfilment doing one thing else and no assure I will be superior doing one thing else?
“Is that going to really scratch the itch and provides me what I need? I do not know. I might most likely say extra no than sure, however these are issues I am going to take into consideration if I am not on this place.”