A clearly emotional Daniel Ricciardo sounded in Singapore like a man who had just driven his last grand prix — but if so, he still couldn’t resist flashing that big trademark smile.
The popular eight-race winning Australian, who’s expected to be ditched by his RB team before the next race in Austin, was hardly denying the rumours after Sunday’s race, talking like someone resigned to his days in Formula One being over.
He sat in the cockpit of his car for a long time after finishing 18th on Sunday, admitting later: “A lot of emotions. I am aware it could be it.
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“Also, just exhausted after the race, so it’s just like a flood of many emotions and feelings and exhaustion.
“The cockpit is something I got very used to for many years. And yeah, (I) just wanted to savour the moment.”
But there was pride too in the 35-year-old’s voice as he still produced one last reminder of his old excellence with the fastest lap of the day, an effort sympathetically acknowledged by the F1 fans who voted their old favourite the driver of the day accolade.
It was also much appreciated by his old Red Bull championship-chasing colleague Max Verstappen, who thanked him over his radio for nicking the fastest-lap point from McLaren title rival and race winner Lando Norris, which may yet prove crucial in the battle to be world champion.
“If Max wins by a point then I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present,” Ricciardo beamed on Sky Sports.
To which, Verstappen responded cheerily: “He can ask for whatever he wants.”
The Dutchman, Ricciardo’s teammate at Red Bull from 2016-2018, offered what sounded like a fond F1 farewell too, as he added: “He will be remembered as a great driver, as a great person, and he has a great character. It’s very rare someone hates him.
“In a few years’ time when I won’t be here anymore, we will sit back and have a beer and remember all those years together.”
There was plenty of poignancy as Ricciardo, who is set to be replaced by New Zealand reserve Liam Lawson, later shrugged: “If it is (my last race), I guess a nice way to say ‘adios’.
“I am not too sure what the plan is, but I mean, look, I’ve obviously got a good idea.”
His team was hardly denying it either, as an RB spokesperson explained that “if it was to be his last race, we wanted him to go out on a high”.
Ricciardo has had his struggles after moving to McLaren, then being dropped as they plumped for the rising talent of Oscar Piastri. This year, he’s been outdriven by RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
“I always said I didn’t want to come back (after McLaren) just to be on the grid — I wanted to fight at the front and get back with Red Bull,” he recalled.
“It didn’t come to fruition. I also have to ask myself the question of what else could I achieve and what else is there to really go for?
“I put my best foot forward and maybe the fairytale ending didn’t happen, but I also have to look back on what it’s been, 13 or so years. I’m proud.”
