An emotional Daniel Ricciardo was particularly appreciative of the ‘Driver of the Day’ award bestowed upon him by F1 fans after Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, conceding that the accolade "means a little something” after what may have been his final race in Formula 1.
There was little to write home about following Ricciardo’s challenging run to P18 in the event at Marina Bay, save for his fastest lap achievement earned on the penultimate lap of the race.
But within the context of the 35-year-old’s uncertain future in F1, and his possible imminent replacement by Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson, Sunday’s race carried a deeper, more poignant significance.
It wasn’t just a struggle for pace or another chance to save his seat - it was a symbolic battle against time and circumstance.
For Ricciardo, the race represented a moment to savor his place on the grid, potentially for the last time, as he fought not just for positions but for a sense of closure on a career that has been as tumultuous as it has been thrilling.
"I have to acknowledge why I came back after the McLaren stint, and I always said I didn't want to come back just to be on the grid," Ricciardo told Sky F1.
"I wanted to try and fight back at the front and get back with Red Bull. Obviously, it didn't come to fruition, so then I also have to ask myself the question 'what else can I achieve? What else is there to really go for?
"I put my best foot forward. Let's say maybe the fairytale ending didn't happen, but I also have to look back on what's been 13 or so years and I'm proud.
"Typically the driver of the day thing is maybe not something us drivers look too much into, but today I can say it's something I'm appreciative of. So that one means a little something."
The race itself was far from straightforward for the 34-year-old. After being eliminated in Q1 during qualifying, Ricciardo and his RB team decided to take a gamble by starting the race on soft tyres, hoping for a strategic advantage.
However, he was unable to make significant progress and was left at the back of the field. A late pit stop allowed him to set the fastest lap of the race, potentially impacting the championship battle between his former team-mate Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
"Obviously after yesterday qualifying out of position, we knew we had to try something and maybe you get a safety car at the right time.
"From what I understand, it was a tough race for overtaking. Not too many people were carving through cars. We went aggressive at the beginning on the soft and just thought maybe we get lucky at some point, but, uh, it wasn't to be.
In an interview with F1 TV, when it was pointed out to him that he had remained for a long moment in the cockpit of his car while in parc fermé, Ricciardo revealed the emotional toll the race had taken on him, acknowledging that it may have been his final appearance in the sport.
"I had a lot of emotions because I'm aware that could be it. I think it's also just [being] exhausted after the race,” he said.
“There's so much, just like a flood of many emotions and feelings and exhaustion, and the cockpit is something that I got very used to for many years, and I just wanted to savour the moment."
Although he fell short of a triumphant send-off, Ricciardo’s fastest lap could prove significant in the title race.
“If Max wins by a point, then I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present!” he joked, referring to the possibility of Verstappen clinching the championship by the slimmest of margins.
Despite the Honey Badger’s lackluster result, the Singapore GP may stand as a bittersweet farewell, a testament to a driver who always raced with heart, even when the odds—and sometimes the car—were against him.
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