This Formula One season has seen two significant changes: Logan Sargeant, a two-season driver with one point replaced half-way through and Daniel Ricciardo, a seasoned driver with eight Grand Prix wins and fourteen seasons replaced after Singapore. Both drivers deserved a more dignified exit from the sport.
A memory resurfaces of a former Red Bull retirement, Sebastian Vettel ended his career with Aston Martin in a beautiful send-off. At the very least, Daniel deserved a Red Bull kick, a symbolic gesture of respect and recognition for his contributions to the team and the sport.
He gave his life, his contagious smile, and his heart to Formula One.
Since the age of nine, Daniel Ricciardo has lived a life where his body and the car are inseparable. At the conclusion of the Singapore Grand Pix, he sat still, unwavering like his resilience. His final connection. His last moments before all his childhood dreams shattered before him, all the times his team disappointed him, and all his sacrifices to assist Max Verstappen. His last race was a tribute point to his former teammate, earning the fastest lap to aid Max one last time in the 2024 championship. This is the last time his body will feel the heat behind a Formula One car, the last point he shall ever receive before they sever the connection between Ricciardo and his car—the brutal amputation.
A Formula One driver without a seat or a car.
‘If a survey could be made of the 22 Formula One drivers to establish who smiles the most, has the sunniest disposition and seems to be generally the nicest guy, Ricciardo would surely be the leader’ – The New York Times. To echo all the drivers, his infectious energy and genuine personality have left an indelible mark on the sport.
Though he never became a World Champion, Daniel Ricciardo’s kindness left a lasting legacy on the world. While Visa Cash App RB may not have given him a proper send-off, his fellow drivers expressed their admiration, a testament to his profound impact on the sport.
‘You leave a legacy of always being yourself, which in this sport is never easy. You’ve taken it all with the biggest smile, and I salute you for it’ – Lewis Hamilton.
‘You’ve been an incredible competitor over the years. Thanks for the many fun battles and the infectious energy you brought to our sport both on and off the track’ This is a heartfelt tribute from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
‘These statistics and accolades are not the only measure of who you are and what you have achieved’—Christian Horner.
In 2010, Daniel Ricciardo made his ‘indelible mark’ during his test session for Red Bull Racing. He raced the fastest time by over a second faster than his future teammate, Sebastian Vettel, a man with four World Drivers’ Championships under his belt. This performance at Abi Dubai in his young driver’s career led to his full-time debut in Formula One at the 2011 British Grand Prix with HRT before joining Red Bull’s sister team, Toro Rosso, in 2012 (now known as Visa Cash App RB).
In 2014, he replaced fellow Australian Mark Webber at Red Bull, finishing third in the championship, ahead of teammate Vettel and at the start of Lewis Hamilton’s domination run. He repeated this result in 2016 during the battle between Nico Rosberg and Hamilton; the struggle of the childhood buddies overshadowed his efforts during the season.
The words Barcelona 2016 enlight two expressions: those who gasp in horror at the notorious Brocedes crash between Nico and Lewis, the distraught at the downfall of childhood best friends turned rivals, and those who smirk, ready to discuss Max Verstappen’s legacy debut race and consequently debut win, becoming the youngest Formula One race winner. However, behind the veil of debuts and lovers’ spats, Ricciardo led the race until Red Bull Racing gave a better pit-stop strategy to the young Max Verstappen.
Tensions between Ricciardo and Verstappen, who is dubbed ‘Mad Max’ for his aggressive driving, escalated in Monaco, resulting in a crash that cost Daniel a potential Monaco win in 2016. Redemption fell in 2018 when Ricciardo finally won the Monaco Grand Prix.
After signing with Renault in 2019-2020, Ricciardo joined McLaren, where he won his last Formula One victory at Monza in 2021, which team principal Zak Brown has tattooed on his arm.
Ironically, in 2023, he was replaced by the younger Australian driver Oscar Piastri at McLaren, echoing his earlier career moves. He returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver before joining Visa Cash App RB in 2024, continuing the cyclical nature of his jounrey.
It comes as no surprise that Liam Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo. However, the situation could have been handled more respectfully. The team principal, Laurent Mekies, suggested it may be his last race, but it was not confirmed.
It was assumed by Christian Horner’s response that Red Bull was using the break between Singapore and Austin to decide on Liam Lawson’s future before his contract finished.
Instead, what remains is Max Verstappen’s ‘Thank you, Daniel’ and the image of Ricciardo savouring his last moments as a driver:
‘The cockpit is something that I got very used to for many years… I just wanted to savour the moment’- Sky Sports.
References :
Hamilton, Lewis. https://www.instagram.com/lewishamilton/ .
Horner, Christian. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAYw6AzMPSz/?img_index=1 .
Mercedes-AMG Petronas. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAYtY1FtSFP/ .
Sky Sports F1. ‘An F1 farewell? 🥲 Teary Daniel Ricciardo’s emotional final moments of Singapore GP’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEB-wzVRFNs . Published 27 September 2024.
Sky Sports F1. ‘Thank you Daniel Ricciardo’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z54bzAWYnSQ . Published 26 September 2024.
Spurgeon, Brad. The New York Times. ‘The Other Side of Mr. Nice Guy’ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/03/sports/autoracing/the-other-side-of-mr-nice-guy.html . Published September, 2016.
Skye Collacott Williamson 