Red Bull pays tribute as Ricciardo finally announces F1 exit | announcement

Red Bull has finally confirmed the exit from Formula 1 of Daniel Ricciardo.

While it has been extensively 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 state of affairs.

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.

In a submit titled ‘Thank you Daniel’ on RB’s official feed, crew 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.”

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 instances, the Australian mentioned he was at peace with himself over the state of affairs.

“I tried to obviously enjoy it [the Singapore Grand Prix weekend], a little bit like the end of '22 with McLaren,” mirrored Ricciardo.

“Obviously I used to be conscious possibly that was my final race, so I attempted to get pleasure from 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.”

Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

Photo by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Images

Ricciardo additionally posted on Instagram some phrases of appreciation to those that had had a job in his F1 profession.

“I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey,” he mentioned. “To the groups and people which have performed their half, thanks.

“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.”

Consistency not velocity 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 wished.

There had been highs, like a 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 crew boss Laurent Mekies has made it clear, nevertheless, that Ricciardo’s pure velocity was by no means the issue, it was simply that he and the crew may by no means constantly ship it.

Speaking completely to Autosport, Mekies mentioned: “You and some different individuals have requested us so many instances, can Daniel nonetheless make it? I believe the reply on the monitor was sure, he can nonetheless make it.

“Look at Miami, take a look at Canada, take a look at these races the place he is proven that the pure velocity was there then. Did we handle to do this in a continuing sufficient method? No, we did not.

“It's by no means the driving force or the crew. It's each collectively, you already know. So did we discover the candy spot typically sufficient? Probably not.

“Did he show that he still had the ultimate speed when the sweet spot was there? Yeah, he definitely did.”

Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, arrives on the monitor

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Mekies mentioned that had Ricciardo been racing for a crew that had been capable of finding the candy spot extra typically, then the state of affairs 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 velocity, however we noticed it a number of instances.

“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 submit on Ricciardo, RB has not but formally introduced that Liam Lawson can be stepping as much as turn into Yuki Tsunoda’s team-mate for the remainder of the marketing campaign.