Daniel Ricciardo has last laugh, taking fastest lap point from Lando Norris in final act

Daniel Ricciardo all but admitted he had raced for the final time in Formula One after finishing 18th in Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.

But the Australian, who will be replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson for the rest of the season in the RB, insisted if that was him done, he was happy to have gone out with a bang, stealing Lando Norris’ fastest lap bonus point at the death to guarantee himself “a nice Christmas present from Red Bull”.

Ricciardo was called into the pits by Red Bull’s sister team with one lap to go at the Marina Bay circuit and fitted with soft tyres specifically so he could take the fastest lap from Norris. His success in doing that helped Max Verstappen’s title bid, meaning Red Bull’s triple world champion lost only seven points to Norris rather than eight and retained a 52-point advantage. Verstappen was quick to thank Ricciardo afterwards.

Setting fastest lap generated some controversy

But while the ethics of what RB did are debatable – many in the sport do not believe one owner should be allowed to own two teams, and this was a naked attempt on RB’s part to help their parent team as Ricciardo was never going to be allowed to keep the point himself as he was not running inside the top 10 – the 35-year-old said he was happy to have done it.

“I heard something about a $3.5 million bonus (£2.6 million) for fastest lap.. something like that?” he joked. “That Red Bull were throwing some crazy numbers around? Haha. No, I’m kind of hoping Max wins by a point now because I’ve guaranteed myself a very nice Christmas present. Sorry Lando, but I think I’d get a good Christmas present!”

Ricciardo has competed in over 250 grands prix since making his debut at Silverstone in 2011 for Hispania Racing. He was tipped as a possible future world champion during his first stint at Red Bull from 2014-2018. But subsequent spells with Renault and McLaren did not work out, and he returned as a reserve driver with Red Bull last year, with a view to trying to get back into the second Red Bull seat.

Handed a drive with RB midway through last season, Ricciardo had opportunities but admitted he had probably not done enough and that the game had moved on. “It came easier for me when I was 25 than when I was 35,” he said. Red Bull want to see what Lawson can do for the remainder of the season as they weigh up what to do with their two teams next year.

“I would have loved a better weekend,” Ricciardo said of his Singapore race. “Who knows whether that would have changed anything? Or if the decision has already been made?

“I tried to enjoy it. A bit like 2022 with McLaren I was aware that might be my final race and I tried to enjoy that. I think I’m in a much happier place in the sport now than I was then. So if this is it, let’s say I have a little bit more peace and I’m proud of my career.

“I tried to become world champion. I tried to become the best at something in the world. It is a tall task that we ask from ourselves. Obviously some achieve it, some don’t. In the end if I came up a little short I can’t be too hard on myself. I’m happy with the effort I put in and I think for that there’s no sadness. I put my best foot forward.”

Dream of returning to Red Bull are more than likely over

Ricciardo added: “I’ve always said I don’t just want to be a guy that’s here on the grid fighting for a point every now and then, which is kind of how it’s been this year. But obviously the purpose of this year was to try to do well enough to get back into Red Bull and fight for wins again.

“I feel like obviously I came up short in that. So what else am I fighting for? What else will give me fulfilment? I’ve been a young driver as well. And at some point you don’t just want to take up space.”

Despite finishing 18th, Ricciardo took the fans’ vote for driver of the day.

“I’ll be honest,” Ricciardo said of that award. “I don’t think the driver of the day usually means that much to us drivers. It’s nice but it’s not something we brag about. But I think today obviously the fans read the media and they knew it could be my last one. It was a really nice gesture from them and today it’s appreciated.”