A gentlemanly farewell
There's been a lot of talk in recent days about Daniel Ricciardo. Unfortunately, it's not been about his exploits on track, but instead it's been speculation about his future as the world awaits the official confirmation that this chapter of the racing career of one of the fastest and most charismatic drivers of the past decade is about to come to an end. By the end of the Singapore weekend it was pretty much an open secret and in his post-race interviews he finally expressed his true feelings about the idea that he might never race a Formula 1 car again in a Grand Prix.
“There are a lot of emotions, because I'm aware that could be it,” he told Lawrence Barretto of F1TV. “I think I'm also exhausted after the race, there's a flood of many emotions and feelings and exhaustion.” Asked why he sat in the car for a while after the race, he offered this explanation: “The cockpit is something I got used to for very many years and so I just wanted to savour the moment.” Then, in another interview he was asked if he would be racing in Austin. “I think there's a realistic chance I won't be there,” he replied, leaving little room for doubt, meaning this could really have been his 257th and last race in Formula 1. It looks almost certain that he will be replaced in the Racing Bulls car by Liam Lawson, who had already been brought in in place of the Australian after he broke his hand in a crash in the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
And yet just a couple of months ago, the rumours had Daniel moving the other way, as a replacement for Sergio Perez, not just as from 2025 but right now for the rest of this season. Eventually, Christian Horner decided not to upset the status quo within the team when the championship hangs in the balance, although it seems there could be a sudden change, which is not exactly unheard of at Red Bull.
Be that as it may, if this was his final Grand Prix, Daniel left like a true gentleman, putting himself at the service of Red Bull who have been with him every step of the way, as he moved up through the categories before making it to Formula 1 and giving him a shot at being world champion. Today, with four laps remaining, the Racing Bulls pitwall got a polite request to support its more senior team, with the aim of preventing Lando Norris from claiming the additional point that goes to the driver who sets the fastest race lap. There was no discussion needed, as Daniel was well outside the points with nothing to lose. Therefore, the team run by Laurent Mekies called the number 3 car in for a third pit stop, to take on his third set of Softs with just one goal, to beat Norris' best time of 1'34”925. A cool customer, we can assume Ricciardo didn't bat an eyelid and hit his target at his first attempt, posting a time of 1'34”486.
He could have turned a deaf ear, found some way to make a mistake so as to not beat the time, but that's not in his nature. Besides he knows he was thrown a lifeline after he bid farewell to McLaren and it would be a bit childish not to comply, to give something to a team that has been an important part of his racing life. The point that therefore did not go to Norris might decide one of the world titles or it might turn out to be an irrelevance, but either way, it will still be in the record books that Daniel set the fastest race lap in the fifteenth edition of the Singapore Grand Prix. Many years hence, some folk will remember that there's a much more human story behind those numbers, the story of a gentleman who wanted to bid farewell to his racing family in style and with class.
