Driver of the day, Ricciardo ends his potential last Grand Prix in tears

Throughout his career in Formula 1, we have experienced a Daniel Ricciardo with a radiant, natural, expressive and often contagious smile. On rare occasions, this smile has faded, to show anger as at the finish of a 2016 Monaco GP that he had just lost. However, we had never seen this smile fade behind tears of sadness. And yet, this is what happened, this Sunday, in the mixed zone after the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Australian was then coming out of a "difficult race" to use his own words, and not to say catastrophic. Only 18th and last of the drivers at the finish of the Grand Prix, the Racing Bulls driver tried to shift on the strategy, in vain. “Every time you’re in Q1 you know it’s going to be a long day and you have to try something with your strategy. You never know here, with a safety car it could work in your favour.”

Far from the pace of his teammate Yuki tsunoda, 12th at the finish, Daniel Ricciardo thinks that the points were not even playable in a fair way. “I think in the end we just weren’t fast enough. I don’t know all the details of Yuki’s race, but I saw he also finished outside the points, so maybe we didn’t have the overall pace in the race stints.”

Driver of the day and guard of honour for Ricciardo

Little consolation for Daniel Ricciardo: a best lap obtained on the penultimate lap of the race, just after a final stop to put on soft tires and steal the bonus point from Lando Norris – possibly to help Max Verstappen in the championship. As a gift, also, offered to the Australian by his team: a "Lap of glory" as the Honey Badger named it, on Canal+.

Indeed, this Singapore Grand Prix was possibly his last at Racing Bulls and probably in Formula 1: if nothing is yet official, there is little doubt, according to the various statements from all parties concerned, that it will be Liam Lawson who will accompany Yuki Tsunoda from the next Grand Prix in Austin.

Aware that he may have competed in his 257th and final Grand Prix this Sunday, Daniel Ricciardo remained seated in his car for a long time. car in the closed park, before appearing before the media, with tears in his eyes. “I think it’s also because I’m exhausted after the race. The cockpit is something I’ve gotten very, very used to over many years and I just wanted to enjoy the moment.”, he told the official F1 microphone.

Danny Ric ❤️

An emotional Daniel Ricciardo speaks after the #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/53hD09HZ4z

- Formula 1 (@ F1) September 22, 2024

He who hoped for a miracle in Singapore, "the end of a fairy tale" to use his words, was not heard. Nevertheless, as a token of respect to one of the most beloved and iconic characters in the 21st century paddock, Daniel Ricciardo did receive some honours. First from the fans who voted him driver of the day in Singapore, and then from his team, who improvised a guard of honour to thank the Australian.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Daniel Ricciardo concluded by saying that he was " proud " of his 13 years in Formula 1 and that, even if he hardly pays attention to the title of "Driver of the Day", it meant a lot to him "a little something" to receive him during what could be his last Grand Prix.

goodbye daniel, i guess…? pic.twitter.com/uQrLJeJJEd

— clara (@leclercsletters) September 22, 2024

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