GP: Singapore GP
Date: 22 September 2024
Winner: Lando Norris – McLaren Mercedes
All the attention was focussed on Lando Norris' dream of a world championship title, but this race should be remembered for another reason.
It was to be the last Grand Prix for Daniel Ricciardo, struggling within the family that had taken him on and launched his career. He was driving a Racing Bulls, clinging on to his hopes… in vain.
But he did leave with an unexpected gift, the fastest lap of the race. A small jewel shining brighter than the Singapore floodlights and with that, Daniel, born in Perth, Australia on 1st July 1989, slipped away.
He took part in 257 GPs, with 8 wins, 3 pole positions and 17 fastest laps to his name.
He brought to the sport an abundance of charisma and a mile-wide smile ever since his debut at Silverstone in 2011 with HRT.
He was hugely popular because of his outgoing nature and his attempts at speaking Italian, a nod to his roots, as his father's family emigrated to Australia from Ficarra, Sicily, his mother's from Calabria.
A ferocious turn of speed saw him beat multiple world champion Sebastian Vettel, when they became teammates at Red Bull in 2014. That year saw his first three wins and a third place in the Championship.
He seemed set for great things, but then something snapped and he lost it. Daniel, what a shame.
In 2025 Pirelli will hit the 500 F1® Grands Prix mark during the season.
Legacy of Speed series looks back at the fifty most significant Grands Prix from Pirelli's time on the F1 World Championship trail.
