Ricciardo’s Last Lap? McLaren Boss Opens Up on Aussie Star’s Uncertain F1 Future

Daniel Ricciardo’s strategic fastest lap of the race at the Singapore Grand Prix has infuriated his former team McLaren, but Zak Brown has admitted he sympathises with Ricciardo.

RB driver Ricciardo was on the verge of tears after qualifying in Singapore. And when he realised that this was probably the last time he would step out of the cockpit after a Grand Prix, his eyes filled with real tears.

“There are a lot of emotions going on because I realise this could be the last time,” Ricciardo said.

Even McLaren CEO Brown, who fired Ricciardo with a year left on his 2022 contract, admitted that rumours of his former driver’s retirement were sad.

“I hope this is not the last race,” Brown told Sky Deutschland. “He’s a good guy and he gave me my first F1 win.”

Ricciardo’s fastest lap of the race, set on new tyres late in the race, was strategic and had been conceived by his parent team, Red Bull Racing, to minimise the loss of points to Lando Norris, and the entire paddock realised this.

RB boss Laurent Mequise said the team just wanted to give Ricciardo the dismissal he deserved at the top of the table.

“It could be Daniel’s last race, so we wanted to give him a taste of it and finish the race with the fastest lap,” Mekies said in the official post-race press conference.
But Ricciardo admitted: “If Max becomes world champion by one point, it will be a nice Christmas present for me.”

“I have to thank Daniel,” said Verstappen, who is close to the eight-time Grand Prix winner.

“He’s a great guy. When I retire in a few years, we’ll have a beer and remember his time in F1. He’ll be remembered as a great driver.”

However, the news of Ricciardo’s departure has not yet been officially announced.

“There is a possibility that you won’t see me in Austin,” Ricciardo admitted. “Austin is my second home so we’ll see what happens. I know an official decision will be made.
Now that the weekend is over, we hope to hear the news soon.”

Ralf Schumacher said before the Singapore race weekend that Ricciardo’s race would be his last.

However, Red Bull F1’s Helmut Marko was adamant, saying: “We will announce the decision after Singapore.”

“Ralf Schumacher has almost appointed himself as our press officer, but I cannot give an official answer at this time. Again, the decision will be made after Singapore.”

Meanwhile, Liam Lawson will probably be ready to return to racing in the American Grand Prix.

“We’ve given a lot of young drivers great opportunities over the years,” Horner said.

“We want to take some time to consider our future options.”

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