Footage has surfaced of Daniel Ricciardo’s final team radio message to the Red Bull VCARB team after what is likely his last race at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Australian driver, facing uncertainty about his F1 future, made no mention of the situation and simply expressed his gratitude to the Red Bull junior team.
Daniel Ricciardo’s final team radio message after the Singapore Grand Prix, likely his last F1 race, surfaced following an emotional performance. The 35-year-old is expected to be replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson ahead of the United States GP.
After setting the fastest lap in the final moments, Ricciardo received a guard of honour from VCARB staff. His fastest lap sparked controversy, especially with McLaren, as it took a point from race winner Lando Norris.
The controversy surrounding Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap at the Singapore Grand Prix stems from shared ownership between VCARB and Red Bull. McLaren’s Andrea Stella expressed frustration, fearing a “coalition championship” and stressing team autonomy.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner denied influencing Ricciardo’s late pit stop, saying the driver wanted to end on a high. Ricciardo, who won the Driver of the Day award despite finishing 18th, responded briefly on team radio, thanking his team. Photographer Kym Illman noted Ricciardo sat in his car for a while, reflecting on what he felt was his last race.
Ricciardo was the last driver to leave the circuit after the Singapore GP, with photographer Kym Illman noting that he seemed reluctant to depart, possibly for the last time.
Since rejoining F1 with VCARB (formerly AlphaTauri) in July 2023, Ricciardo’s performances have been underwhelming, scoring points in just four of 26 starts. His highest finish came in the 2022 Mexican Grand Prix, where he placed seventh.
Ricciardo acknowledged the growing gap between himself and younger drivers, partly due to technological advancements like driver-in-the-loop simulators.
Ricciardo reflected on his F1 performance, saying, “I’m 35 and I still showed the pace I’ve had over the years, but it’s been harder to display it consistently every weekend.” This statement highlights the growing challenge he faces in keeping up with the younger generation of drivers and adapting to the advancements in racing technology.
“Perhaps this is partly due to my age. I definitely found it easier when I was 25 compared to 35, but the competition might also be getting tougher. This seems to be a trend across all sports: simulators are improving, and younger athletes are entering the scene, which means they’re better prepared.
They also have access to a wealth of on-board footage to analyze everyone’s performance. So, it’s possible that the overall standard has risen, making it a challenge for me to compete at that level consistently. I can’t feel disappointed about it, though; I cherish the times when I could compete successfully, and it was a lot of fun. If this is the end of my journey, I want to ensure I leave the sport with positive memories rather than feeling like it’s just a grind, constantly being eliminated early.”