Is Daniel Ricciardo Saying Goodbye?

Daniel Ricciardo’s Fastest Lap in Singapore: A Fitting Farewell?

On the 60th lap of the Singapore GP, Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap of the race, a rare feat for the Australian driver in recent years. It marked the 17th fastest lap of his career, but his first since 2021, when he was racing for McLaren alongside Lando Norris. Coincidentally, Ricciardo took the fastest-lap accolade from this year’s race winner, Norris, despite it offering no additional points or changing the race outcome for himself or his Red Bull team.

Ricciardo, running in 18th place with only three laps to go, made a late pit stop to switch to soft tyres. His burst of speed felt more like a symbolic moment than a tactical decision, with McLaren principal Andrea Stella hinting post-race that Ricciardo’s effort was “peculiar.” For conspiracy-minded Formula 1 fans, it may have seemed like a final nod from Red Bull to Ricciardo, a driver who has had a complicated yet beloved career.

RUMORS

Rumors about Ricciardo’s future in Formula 1 have intensified, with many speculating that his days at Red Bull may be numbered. Liam Lawson has been widely tipped as a potential replacement, and the gap in qualifying and race pace between Ricciardo and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda only adds to the speculation. For now, Ricciardo’s late-race surge might just be a parting gesture for a driver whose time in F1 may be approaching its end.