Daniel Ricciardo admits there’s a actual likelihood he is not going to drive in Components 1 once more, however is extra “at peace” with a possible exit than he was two years in the past.
Experiences main into the Singapore Grand Prix steered the Australian’s place at RB was within the stability relying on his efficiency on the Marina Bay Circuit, with reserve driver Liam Lawson ready within the wings.
A disappointing show after a failed gamble to start out on the delicate tyre left Ricciardo to complete 18th, lamenting that “the fairytale ending did not occur”, though his quickest lap sparked controversy after it took some extent away from race winner Lando Norris within the McLaren driver’s title combat with Max Verstappen.
An emotional Ricciardo insisted after the race that he departs Singapore feeling higher than he did following his exit from McLaren on the finish of the 2022 season, when he misplaced his seat to rookie compatriot Oscar Piastri.
Ricciardo was left with no drive till his return with RB throughout its earlier guise as AlphaTauri to interchange the struggling Nyck de Vries for the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, ostensibly to gauge his viability for a return to Pink Bull alongside Verstappen.
“I attempted to clearly get pleasure from it [the Singapore Grand Prix weekend], somewhat bit like the tip of ’22 with McLaren,” mirrored Ricciardo.
“Clearly I used to be conscious possibly that was my final race, so I attempted to get pleasure from that.
“I believe I am in a a lot happier place now within the sport than I used to be then. So if that is it, for instance I’ve somewhat bit extra peace and I am pleased with the profession.”
Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Crew VCARB 01, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Photos
These remarks adopted Ricciardo’s admission that “there’s a life like likelihood that it is not going to occur” when requested if he can be at the USA Grand Prix subsequent trip.
Ricciardo stated he was “ready for it” to be the tip of his F1 profession, which started with the now-defunct HRT group in 2011.
The eight-time grands prix winner turned the tenth most skilled driver in F1 historical past in Singapore, his 257th begin surpassing the tally of Riccardo Patrese.
“It has been a really race-by-race scenario with Pink Bull I believe for all of us in a manner, clearly Checo [Sergio Perez] as effectively,” mirrored Ricciardo. “And at instances it feels prefer it’s going a technique, then it goes the opposite.
“Clearly there was numerous emphasis on this weekend, and I might have liked a greater weekend – who is aware of if that might have modified something, or if the choice’s been made already, even previous to the weekend.
“I am clearly ready for it and that is why I believe over the weekend simply tried to acknowledge just a few issues as effectively with myself. And I believe acknowledged additionally why I got here again into the game.
“Typically you have to see an enormous image and I at all times stated, ‘I do not simply wish to be a man that is right here on the grid and combating for some extent every so often’, which has sort of been how this 12 months’s gone.”
