Amid final week’s outpouring of affection for Daniel Ricciardo as his System 1 exit grew to become official, there was additionally unease from some about how his ultimate weekend performed out.
Whereas Ricciardo was given that fastest lap opportunity as a farewell gift, acquired a guard of honour on his return to the RB motorhome post-race, and the good and the nice stated their goodbyes on Sunday evening, there have been loads of individuals suggesting he didn’t get the total farewell that he deserved.
In spite of everything, if the paddock and the remainder of the world had identified correctly that it was going to be Ricciardo’s ultimate race for RB, then there may have been higher celebrations to mark the event.
PLUS: Why Ricciardo deserves a proper F1 farewell, even if his time is up
That Ricciardo didn’t get such remedy is one thing that has been laid on the door of Crimson Bull and RB, amid the misbelief that they’d stored the Australian in the dead of night about their intentions.
For that idea to stack up, nevertheless, it will have required Ricciardo to have identified nothing concerning the plans to advertise Liam Lawson with instant impact – and that every part that occurred within the days after Singapore got here out of the blue.
However, in line with insiders, the truth of how issues developed between Crimson Bull/RB and Ricciardo behind the scenes was very totally different to the way it performed out in public.
And as with most issues within the difficult world of F1, there have been a large number of things coming collectively that resulted in a weekend the place, for each crew and driver, the farewell was maybe not as they could every have finally wished for.
Lawson possibility
The important thing driving power behind why Singapore grew to become the crunch weekend is known to have been an option in Lawson’s contract with Red Bull relating to his F1 future.
Looming deadline over Lawson’s future meant Crimson Bull couldn’t delay
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
A number of sources have indicated that there was a September deadline for Crimson Bull to commit Lawson to an F1 seat for 2025, or else he would in impact turn out to be a free agent.
The New Zealander’s efficiency as Ricciardo’s stand-in for 5 races final yr had impressed everybody within the paddock, and it’s identified that Sauber/Audi had been sniffing round him earlier within the season.
Nonetheless, with Crimson Bull dealing with uncertainty over Sergio Perez’s efficiency, and conscious that Max Verstappen’s dedication to the squad can’t be assured for the long-term, there was a terrific reluctance to let Lawson go as he may doubtlessly be somebody Crimson Bull wants in its important squad sooner relatively than later.
So with Crimson Bull/RB sure that Lawson was their man for the longer term, and that the September deadline meant a choice needed to be made after Singapore, the actual query was which crew he would get drafted into and who he would substitute.
The conclusion in a short time grew to become that, whereas Perez has not been delivering all that had been hoped for, it was in all probability a step too far to count on Lawson to right away step up as Verstappen’s team-mate.
That might have thrust him into an surroundings of ultra-high stress with the chance that it may kill his profession in a short time.
Consideration subsequently shifted to Ricciardo’s future at RB, with there being a sense that the Australian had not hit the peaks that had been hoped for when he was signed for an F1 comeback in the course of 2023.
Certain there had been some sturdy days – particularly that fourth place on this yr’s Miami dash – however he and RB had not discovered a stage of consistency to repeat that type usually.
Additionally it is vital to keep in mind that Ricciardo had been introduced again to F1 not for what he may do for RB, however as a substitute to audition for a return to Crimson Bull if Perez didn’t ship.
Peaks of Miami couldn’t be usually reached by Ricciardo in 2024
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
And whereas the Mexican has had a disappointing marketing campaign, Ricciardo’s personal up-and-down performances for RB meant he by no means grew to become an apparent candidate to step up and be assured to do a greater job.
So as soon as Ricciardo was successfully now not a Crimson Bull candidate, then he was at all times going to be up towards it to persuade RB to increase his contract past the tip of this yr.
From the point of view of Crimson Bull’s Helmut Marko, if he was not going to be part of the household in 2025, then it made little sense to proceed with him till the tip of the season, particularly because the squad wanted solutions about Lawson in case Perez’s state of affairs continued to frustrate.
Whereas long-time ally Crimson Bull crew boss Christian Horner did all he may to delay the inevitable, and gave Ricciardo each alternative he may to attempt to show his price, ultimately even he needed to settle for that it was higher that Lawson’s step up got here for the US GP.
That call was made a number of weeks in the past, and it’s understood that Ricciardo was knowledgeable of the define plan over the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, giving him time to course of issues forward of the Singapore GP.
That information was stored out of the general public area although, with Crimson Bull having no want to unfold tales about Ricciardo being changed and as a substitute wanting to depart issues as much as the Australian in tips on how to deal with issues.
There have been additionally different elements at play, as Marko defined this week about why issues weren’t introduced by the crew earlier than the weekend – regardless that, in his personal phrases, Ricciardo had been ‘knowledgeable’.
“[It was] associated to quite a lot of elements and obligations,” stated Marko. “You even have to concentrate to sponsors. He stated very effectively that he’s at peace with himself, and he has come to phrases with the state of affairs.”
It’s understood that Ricciardo knew going into Singapore of Crimson Bull’s intentions, though particulars are murky
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
Ricciardo’s final likelihood
What just isn’t certain although is whether or not Ricciardo knew earlier than Singapore he was positively out, or that he was possible out. At the same time as he spoke to the media on Thursday in Singapore, the eight-time grand prix winner supplied solely cryptic solutions about his future, suggesting things were not set in stone.
Requested if contractually there was a state of affairs the place Singapore could possibly be his final race, Ricciardo stated: “I do not assume so. However I additionally do not need to stand right here and be the lawyer. Look, I’d say ‘no’. But additionally, we all know how these sports activities work.
“Folks haven’t seen by way of a season earlier than, so it is nothing new in some methods. So I do not need to even be like, ‘Oh, 100% I will guess all my home on it.’ I have been round too lengthy.”
Insiders have revealed, nevertheless, {that a} dialogue with the Ricciardo camp came about forward of the Singapore race weekend to counsel that, with the path of journey clear in RB selling Lawson, there could possibly be some type of official joint Crimson Bull/Ricciardo announcement put out that this is able to be his ultimate grand prix.
Nonetheless, for causes that aren’t solely clear, issues didn’t progress on this entrance.
It could possibly be that Ricciardo didn’t need a complete lot of fuss fabricated from him over the weekend. It could possibly be that he didn’t need the distraction of profession reflections. Or it may have been there have been contractual issues that also wanted sorting if issues weren’t 100% agreed.
Or it might even have been him holding onto hope {that a} good consequence on the streets of Singapore may have compelled Crimson Bull’s palms in retaining him on.
Even when there was solely the slimmest likelihood of delivering the consequence wanted to maintain his seat, then it was one thing price preventing for. Ricciardo has proven all through his profession that he’s not somebody who provides up within the face of adversity; so why get out the white flag now?
Ricciardo elected to not subject any type of assertion in the course of the Singapore weekend to formally acknowledge the tip of his highway with RB
Photograph by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Photographs
As he himself identified on Thursday night: “What’s loopy about this sport is, and that is me simply now, simply type of speaking a little bit of sh*t, however I’m going and get a podium this weekend, after which I am in all probability the most popular factor within the sport.
“That is the type of the merry-go-round we’re on. And I do know it might change so rapidly.
“So look, I am conscious that issues are hotting up, so to talk, however I simply must attempt to get my head down this weekend. And yeah, kick some arse.”
That latter state of affairs seemed more and more doable on Friday night when Yuki Tsunoda ended up fourth quickest in second observe, and Ricciardo simply two locations additional again, because the RB briefly seemed well-suited to the Marina Bay circuit. Even Marko himself steered that every one hope was not misplaced for Ricciardo.
Chatting with Sky Germany in Singapore concerning the state of affairs that night, Marko stated: “He [Ricciardo] stated that if he finishes on the rostrum, the state of affairs will look utterly totally different. I completely agree with him.”
This latter idea would additionally possible clarify why Ricciardo’s manner seemed to change so much on Saturday evening, the place his Q1 exit meant his destiny was just about sealed.
Ricciardo’s ever-present smile was nonetheless there however you can inform there have been occasions when he was having to power it. There have been moments when he additionally needed to chunk his tongue.
Requested if the qualifying consequence had damage extra as a result of it appeared after Friday there had been a chance for redemption following Marko’s recommendations, Ricciardo mirrored: “You’ll be able to’t simply go from one race to a different, like, that is… that is not okay.
“I did assume right this moment was going to be okay. However, yeah, no, that is… yeah. I will say no extra.”
Q1 exit dealt a crushing blow to Ricciardo’s hopes of salvaging his season with a powerful consequence
Photograph by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Photographs
Time to say goodbye
By the point Sunday evening got here, and Ricciardo’s tyre technique had failed as he discovered himself battling on the again, it was clear within his own head that this was it.
That explains why he was so keen to go for that late quickest lap and why, as soon as the chequered flag was completed and he took his gloves off in parc ferme, he sat nonetheless within the automobile for some time, absorbing his ultimate moments as an F1 driver.
Even with no formal announcement about issues, for these exterior of Crimson Bull and the Ricciardo camp, what was occurring was fairly apparent – it simply wanted the ultimate affirmation.
Those that wished to say goodbye to Ricciardo knew that Sunday evening was the precise second, as even Lando Norris was seen popping into the RB storage late at evening to say farewell to his former team-mate.
Might Ricciardo have had a greater sending-off for his ultimate F1 weekend? Completely. And primarily based on the adulation that he acquired when the information grew to become public, it will actually have been a joyous and emotional event.
Would Ricciardo have preferred that? Sure. Would Crimson Bull have wished that? Definitely.
Hindsight presents 20/20 imaginative and prescient although, and the multitude of interconnecting elements – a few of which contradicted one another – meant that the chance for that to occur slipped by way of the online. And who is aware of, if each events had their time once more, then issues could have been completed otherwise.
However as Ricciardo himself identified on social media when information of his F1 exit grew to become public, F1 throws at you each the nice and the dangerous in equal measure.
“It will at all times have its highs and lows. But it surely’s been enjoyable and reality be advised I would not change it,” he stated. “Till the subsequent journey.”
Watch: Why RB have Dropped Ricciardo for Lawson with Fast Impact