Daniel Ricciardo has 'good idea' Singapore Grand Prix might be his last F1 race

Daniel Ricciardo suggests that he has a strong feeling he may have just completed his final race in Formula 1.

The Australian driver, who has secured eight victories since beginning his career in 2011, is expected to be substituted at Red Bull's RB team by reserve driver Liam Lawson ahead of the upcoming race in Austin, Texas.

When questioned by BBC Radio 5 Live if achieving the fastest lap at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he ended up finishing last, was his way of saying farewell, Ricciardo responded, “Maybe, maybe. If it turns out to be my farewell, then that’s a nice way to say goodbye.”

He mentioned, "I'm not entirely certain about the strategy, but I do have a pretty solid understanding of it."

Daniel Ricciardo's fastest lap sparked some debate as it denied McLaren's Lando Norris the extra championship point. Norris, who clinched the victory, is currently competing for the title against Max Verstappen from Red Bull.

It didn't benefit RB in the championship since a driver can only receive the point for the fastest lap if they finish in the top ten.

When questioned about the decision to change his tires at the end of the race, a representative from RB explained, "If this was going to be his final race, we wanted him to finish on a positive note."

The RB representative mentioned that the team is unsure if any decisions have been made yet. Ultimately, Ricciardo's future will be determined by Red Bull's leadership, particularly team principal Christian Horner and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

Ricciardo mentioned, "I suppose this might benefit Max before Abu Dhabi, so perhaps there's a little holiday gift in store for him if he secures a victory by a single point."

Verstappen commented, "He can request anything he likes."

The Dutch driver, who was Ricciardo's teammate at Red Bull from 2016 to 2018, expressed his admiration for the 35-year-old.

"He's an amazing person," Verstappen mentioned. "We've always had a strong bond. There was a competitive spirit between us on the team."

He'll always be known as an exceptional driver and a wonderful individual. He possesses an incredible personality, and it's tough to find anyone who dislikes him. In a few years, when I'm no longer around, I hope we can gather for a drink and reminisce about all the good times we've shared.

At the conclusion of 2018, Ricciardo departed from Red Bull to join Renault. He raced with the French team for two seasons, showcasing his competitive skills, before making the switch to McLaren in 2021.

When he arrived, he had difficulty keeping up with his teammate Norris, and after the 2022 season, he was let go—one year before his contract was supposed to end.

Ricciardo secured a position as the reserve driver for Red Bull in 2023 and was reinstated as a race driver midway through the previous season. He stepped in for Dutch driver Nyck de Vries, whose performances with the junior team didn’t meet the expectations of the team’s management.

However, just after competing in two races since his return, Ricciardo fractured his hand in an accident during the Dutch Grand Prix. As a result, Lawson stepped in to take his place for five races.

Red Bull wanted him to return, hoping he could regain the impressive performance he displayed with them in the previous decade and possibly take over Sergio Perez’s spot as Verstappen’s teammate.

However, he has frequently been surpassed by his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.

Ricciardo shared with Sky Sports, "I need to recognize the reasons for my return following my time with McLaren. I've always maintained that I didn't want to come back just to fill a spot on the grid; my goal was to compete at the top and reunite with Red Bull."

"It didn't work out as planned. I also find myself wondering what else I could accomplish and what other goals are worth pursuing."

"I gave it my all, and while I might not have gotten the perfect ending I hoped for, I can reflect on the journey of the past 13 years with pride."

Ricciardo struggled to hold back his emotions when questioned about why he remained in his car's cockpit for an extended period after the race.

He mentioned feeling overwhelmed with emotions. He realized that this might be a significant moment for him. After the race, he felt completely drained, and it all came rushing in—emotions, sensations, and fatigue. The cockpit is a place he has become very comfortable in over the years. He just wanted to take a moment to appreciate what had happened.