'Could be it': Ricciardo on brink of tears as fate sinks in during ...

An emotional Daniel Ricciardo says he’s at peace with his career ending after the Singapore Grand Prix despite never having achieved his “fairytale” ending of returning to Red Bull Racing.

Ricciardo’s future has been the subject of intense speculation for the last week amid rumours Red Bull is preparing to rip him out of his RB cockpit to place Kiwi young gun Liam Lawson in his place.

Confirmation of the driver swap could come as soon as Monday.

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Ricciardo is expected to retain a place in Red Bull’s roster as a reserve driver to the end of the year, when his contract will expire, although Red Bull Racing reportedly also has an option on his services for 2025.

Having previously declared his intention to end his time in Formula 1 with the Red Bull family, and with only one other seat still available on the grid next year anyway, the decision will bring Ricciardo’s grand prix racing career to an end.

Speaking to F1’s Lawrence Barretto after the race, Ricciardo became emotional, visibly holding back tears as he admitted he’s unsure if he’ll get the chance to race in F1 again.

“A lot of emotions because I’m aware it could be it,” Ricciardo said. “Also (there’s) exhaustion after the race so just a flood of many emotions...

“The cockpit is something that I got very used to for many years and I just wanted to savour the moment.”

In a separate interview with Sky Sports, Ricciardo said he was “at peace” with the possibility of being replaced.

“I also have to acknowledge why I came back after the McLaren stint. I always said I don’t want to come back just to be on the grid; I want to try and fight back at the front and get back at Red Bull [Racing[. Obviously it didn’t come to fruition.

“I put my best foot forward. Maybe the fairytale ending didn’t happen.”

Speaking to written media, Ricciardo said he was also conscious of overstaying his welcome, potentially quashing any chance of another comeback in a further Red Bull driver shuffle later this year or next season.

“I’ve been a young driver as well, and at some point you don’t just want to take up space,” he said, per The Race. “Obviously you have to be selfish, but if I’m not able to go and fight at the front with Red Bull, then you have to ask yourself: what am I staying on the grid for?

“That’s something I’ve also come to peace with.”

For the first time this year, Ricciardo hinted at the mental toll of the tribulations of his comeback season, which began last July but was waylaid by a broken hand.

Ironically his five races on the sidelines gave Lawson an opportunity to prove himself worthy of a seat in Formula 1, creating the upward pressure that has ultimately led to his presumed impending demise.

The combination of that upward pressure and Ricciardo’s inconsistency over the last 12 months has weighed on him, forcing him to reckon with his purpose in the sport.

“I tried to get back into Red Bull. It didn’t work out, so I also have to say: okay, what else am I ultimately doing here and trying to achieve?” he told Sky Sports.

“I think when you experience the highs of winning you can only fight for P10 for so long — there’s nothing like that feeling, and if that no longer is possible, and if it is becoming a little hard, I think that’s the truth.

“I was able to do some moments of greatness this year, but it was trickier to do it week in, week out. Maybe that’s [being] 35. Maybe the competition’s getting better and better. Who knows.

“Sometimes [races] felt a lot more effortless.

“I remember actually it was here [in Singapore] in 2014 — that was my breakthrough year — Sir Jackie Stewart caught me in the lobby. I remember he said something to me. He goes, ‘Look, if you ever want to talk, let me know, because it won’t always be as easy as it seems’.

“He was kind of just preparing me for the lows. I was on such a high. Okay, I didn’t win the championship that year, but everything just felt easy.

“When he told me, I was like, ‘I’m good. What are you talking about? I’m not struggling. I’m not intimidated by anyone. What is this?’. But even the following year, 2015, was a tough year, and I immediately realised what he was talking about.

“Never get too high, try not to get too low and just try to ride the wave. Just keep your feet on the ground.”

The uncertainty around Ricciardo’s future put him in the difficult and emotionally taxing position of being unsure whether Singapore will be his final grand prix as he suited up for the race.

Having been in this position already once before, in the final days of his McLaren stint, Ricciardo said he knew to savour the moment as best he could, reflecting on his long and generally successful career rather than his disappointing final days.

“I tried to obviously enjoy it, a little bit like the end of 2022 at McLaren — I thought maybe that was my last race, so I tried to enjoy that,” he said, per The Race.

“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.

“Obviously 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 of ourselves, and 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, and I’m happy with the effort I put in.

“There’s no sadness or feeling of regret or what could’ve been.”

The lack of a formal announcement also meant Formula 1 and Ricciardo’s fellow drivers had no opportunity to contribute to a valedictory.

Max Verstappen was the exception, however, praising his former Red Bull Racing teammate’s career.

“I don’t think he has to feel sorry for himself,” he said earlier in the week. “Sometimes things maybe don’t work out the way you want them in certain stages of your career, but you still have achieved a lot more than anyone could ever dream of in their lives.

“Even if this is the last race, you can still look back at something amazing that not many people can achieve and do something else maybe in life also.”

On Sunday he gave Ricciardo a glowing character assessment.

“Daniel and I, we go of course a long time way back,” he told Sky Sports. “We’ve always had a great relationship, a great friendship, a lot of respect for each other as well. He’s just a great guy. We get on well. There’s no fake person; we just get along. Easygoing — we’re like that.

“He will for sure be remembered as a very fast driver — I think everyone knows that — but also as a great guy in the paddock.”

Ricciardo revealed Verstappen was one of the few drivers to reach out during his difficult early months of the season to offer him encouragement.

“It’s a funny thing, because as teammates you just know each other more,” he said. “It’s weird intimacy.

“We had such a rivalry, but also I think we really enjoyed it and it became such a respect.

“I think Max has grown into obviously a great driver but a very mature young man. He’s always been very appreciative of our friendship and supportive — even after Japan this year, I was getting quite a lot of stick and he was one of the only guys who sent me a text and said, ‘Mate, keep your head up. We know what you’re capable of. Don’t listen to the noise’.

“I respect and appreciate him a lot.”

Ricciardo was briefly drawn on his end-2018 decision to quit Red Bull Racing for Renault, where he spent arguably two of the best years of his career, before making the ill-fated switch to McLaren.

“At the time obviously in my head everything made sense, but was it the best decision of my career? Of course you could argue, no, it wasn’t,” he admitted. “I’m okay with that.”

Despite charting the wrong course and a flat result at what’s likely to be his final race in Singapore, Ricciardo said he was satisfied to have achieved his childhood dream to race and win in Formula 1.

“I’m also grateful for the career,” he said. “Getting to Formula 1 was a dream, let alone being here for over a decade and having the chance to fight for wins.

“I don’t want to look back and be, ‘Poor me’. I think it’s been great.

“I also have to look back on what it’s been, 13 or so years. I’m proud.”