If Daniel Ricciardo has completed his last-ever F1 race in Singapore, the Aussie will be remembered for signing off with class even as the slings and arrows rained down upon him.
The Australian veteran will reportedly be stood down following the Singapore GP to make way for Red Bull young gun Liam Lawson.
Ricciardo has been battling with Red Bull’s second team and had hoped to force his way back into the main team for a final swansong.
That fire flickered a little brighter as Sergio Perez’s season fell off a cliff, but Ricciardo could not find the results in the RB car to force his way back up the pecking order.
All season, Ricciardo has been forced to bat away criticism over his age, his form and whether he deserved to remain on the grid at the expense of a young driver like Lawson.
Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve was the most vocal, tormenting the Aussie by saying he should leave if he ‘can’t cut it’ and belittling his past achievements at Red Bull.
That criticism reached its peak after Ricciardo was defeated by teammate Yuki Tsunoda in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Ricciardo was brought to tears after the realisation set in that he had raced his last F1 event
Ricciardo revealed that Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen had sent him a message of support earlier in the season
During his time in Japan, Ricciardo was also branded a ‘terrorist’ by world champion Max Verstappen for his competitive driving in a go-kart race.
But the Aussie has now revealed that the Red Bull champion has been the only driver to send a message of support after the Japan disaster. ‘After Japan this year I was getting quite a lot of stick and he was one of the only guys that sent me a text,’ Ricciardo said.
‘He said ‘mate, keep your head up, we know what you’re capable of, don’t listen to the noise’.
‘I respect and appreciate him a lot.’
It was a moment of class that F1 fans applauded ahead of Ricciardo’s likely retirement from the grid.
Ricciardo received a guard of honour and round of applause when he returned to Red Bull after the Singapore GP
‘That’s the kind of support and respect we love to see between drivers! Max showing true sportsmanship and class,’ one fan posted.
‘Doesn’t surprise me from Max, always sincere, Daniel the cheerful note in the driver camp, we will miss you,’ added another.
‘That duo, even though they might not have been fighting for championships, was the most entertaining ever in F1,’ commented yet another.
It comes after Ricciardo received a guard of honour from Red Bull as he returned to HQ following the race in Singapore, knowing it was likely his last for the team.
The Aussie was applauded raucously by the team and there were emotional hugs all round in a touching tribute to the 35-year-old.
While it was a moment of respect and appreciation, Aussie F1 fans still felt that Ricciardo deserved a better end to his time at Red Bull.
‘It’s sad to see him go, I hope another team gives him a chance,’ one fan posted.
‘Daniel deserves a way better goodbye. Let him finish the season,’ added another.
‘It’s obviously over isn’t it Danny deserves better this can be a cruel sport at times,’ lamented another.
The Aussie driver took some time in his car after the race to savour the moment
Kiwi driver Liam Lawson is likely to be given Ricciardo’s spot at RB over the last six races of the season to prepare for next year
Ricciardo himself seems resigned to his fate and took a minute in his car after the gruelling 62-lap race to reflect on what was likely his last race.
His team kept radio silence on the last lap in an apparent mark of respect, allowing him to soak up his last moments as an F1 driver.
And Ricciardo himself admitted that he just wanted to ‘savour the moment’.
‘A lot of emotions, because – look I’m aware it could be it, and I think it’s also just [being’ exhausted after the race,’ Ricciardo explained.
‘So it’s like a flood of many emotions and feelings and exhaustion.
‘The cockpit is something that I got very used to for many years. I just wanted to savour the moment.’