Daniel Ricciardo: Aussie F1 star emotional after admitting Singapore may have been his last drive

The Formula 1 world is gearing up for life after Daniel Ricciardo as the Australian star seemed resigned to his fate during an emotional interview after the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ricciardo teared up and talked like a man who has accepted his fate with reports circling he will most likely be sacked as early as Monday.

After finishing 18th in Singapore Ricciardo managed to produce a smile but also admitted his time at Red Bull was probably coming to an end: “A lot of emotions. I am aware it could be it. Just exhausted after the race, so a flood of emotions and feelings and exhaustion. Just wanted to savour the moment.”

But there was pride too in the 35-year-old’s voice as he still produced one last reminder of his old excellence with the fastest lap of the day, an effort sympathetically acknowledged by the F1 fans who voted their old favourite the driver of the day accolade.

It was also much appreciated by his old Red Bull championship-chasing colleague Max Verstappen, who thanked him over his radio for nicking the fastest-lap point from McLaren title rival and race winner Lando Norris, which may yet prove crucial in the battle to be world champion.

“If Max wins by a point then I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present,” Ricciardo beamed on Sky Sports.

To which, Verstappen responded cheerily: “He can ask for whatever he wants.”

The Dutchman, Ricciardo’s teammate at Red Bull from 2016-2018, offered what sounded like a fond F1 farewell too, as he added: “He will be remembered as a great driver, as a great person, and he has a great character. Someone rarely hates him.

“In a few years when I won’t be here anymore, we will sit back and have a beer and remember all those years together.”

There was plenty of poignancy as Ricciardo, who is set to be replaced by New Zealand reserve Liam Lawson, later shrugged: “If it is (my last race), I guess a nice way to say ‘aidos’.

“I am not too sure what the plan is, but I mean, look, I’ve got a good idea.”

His team was hardly denying it either as an RB spokesperson explained that “if it was to be his last race, we wanted him to go out on a high.”

Ricciardo has had his struggles after moving to McLaren, then being dropped as they plumped for the rising talent of Oscar Piastri. This year, he’s been outdriven by RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

“I always said I didn’t want to come back (after McLaren) just to be on the grid - I wanted to fight at the front and get back with Red Bull,” he recalled.

“It didn’t come to fruition. I also have to ask myself the question of what else could I achieve and what else is there to go for?

“I put my best foot forward and maybe the fairytale ending didn’t happen, but I also have to look back on what it’s been, 13 or so years. I’m proud.”

With AAP.