Red Bull has lastly confirmed the exit from Formula 1 of Daniel Ricciardo.
While it has been broadly accepted that Ricciardo competed in his remaining race for RB in Singapore final weekend, there had been no formal announcement from the squad or guardian Red Bull operation concerning the scenario.
But on Thursday afternoon, Red Bull’s social media channels paid tribute to Ricciardo’s contribution over time, which included seven out of eight profession wins.
Under a put up titled ‘Thank you Daniel’ on RB’s official feed, staff boss Laurent Mekies mentioned: “He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit.”
Ricciardo additionally posted on Instagram some phrases of appreciation to those that had had a task in his F1 profession.
He wrote: “I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey. To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me haha thank you. It’ll always have its highs and lows but it’s been fun and truth be told I wouldn’t change it. Until the next adventure.”
While Ricciardo was not definitive about his personal future after Singapore, it was clear from his physique language and messaging that he was anticipating it to be his remaining race in F1.
Speaking after the race, and getting emotional at occasions, the Australian mentioned he was at peace with himself over the scenario.
“I attempted to clearly take pleasure in it [the Singapore Grand Prix weekend], slightly bit like the tip of '22 with McLaren,” mirrored Ricciardo.
“Obviously I used to be conscious perhaps that was my final race, so I attempted to take pleasure in that.
“I think I'm in a much happier place now in the sport than I was then. So if this is it, let's say I have a little bit more peace and I'm proud of the career.”
Consistency not pace the problem
Ricciardo’s return to F1 final 12 months with RB was seen as a possibility for him to indicate that he nonetheless had the qualities that would earn him a spot in the principle Red Bull operation.
But his prospects of that weren't helped by a crash on the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix that broke his wrist and put him on the sidelines for a number of weeks.
While again to full health this season, and regardless of a possible alternative opening up at Red Bull due to Sergio Perez’s struggles, Ricciardo couldn't ship the consistency that his bosses needed.
There have been highs, like an excellent fourth place within the Miami dash, and a run to eighth place in Canada, however there have been too many events when he struggled for higher outcomes.
RB staff boss Laurent Mekies has made it clear, nevertheless, that final Ricciardo’s pure pace was by no means the issue, it was simply that he and the staff might by no means persistently ship it.
Speaking completely to Motorsport.com, Mekies mentioned: “You and some different individuals have requested us so many occasions, can Daniel nonetheless make it? And I feel the reply on the monitor was sure, he can nonetheless make it.
Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Team VCARB 01
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“Look at Miami, have a look at Canada, have a look at these races the place he is proven that the pure pace was there then. Did we handle to do this in a relentless sufficient method? No, we did not.
“It's by no means the driving force or the staff. It's each collectively, you already know. So did we discover the candy spot usually sufficient? Probably not.
“Did he show that he still had the ultimate speed when the sweet spot was there? Yeah, he definitely did.”
Mekies mentioned that had Ricciardo been racing for a staff that had been capable of finding the candy spot extra usually, then the scenario might have been totally different.
“It is very possible that tomorrow you could find a car that leaves you in that sweet spot for more races than not,” he added.
“It would have been totally different if we had by no means seen the final word pace, however we noticed it a number of occasions.
“And it's something we have never hid our share of responsibility for, in trying to give him the car needed to express himself, and trying to find the sweet spot more often than not.”
Despite its put up on Ricciardo, RB has not but formally introduced that Liam Lawson can be stepping as much as develop into Yuki Tsunoda’s team-mate for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
