Written by Vyas Ponnuri
After much speculation, Daniel Ricciardo and VCARB have officially parted ways after the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. The Australian battled speculations regarding this future ahead of Formula One's latest outing at Singapore, with all the inklings pointing to one last outing for the 257-race veteran. His time in Formula One has all but come to an end as he departs the junior Red Bull outfit.
An emotional Ricciardo sat in his VCARB 01, having pulled up to parc ferme. Cameras panned to the Australian slowly climbing out of his Formula One machine. Perhaps it wasn't the physical pain Ricciardo had been facing, but the sheer emotions. The writing was already on the wall.
Even if it wasn't officially announced until Thursday evening, the signs of Singapore being the Australian's final Formula One race were clearly evident. According to Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko, Ricciardo had already been informed that Singapore was, in fact, set to be his final race.
Pitting on lap 60, Ricciardo took home the fastest lap of the race. This was, in some ways, a parting gift for the eight-time race winner. Head off on a high into what could potentially be retirement from the sport.
The commentators were officially thanking Ricciardo for his contributions to the sport, as he rounded the streets of Marina Bay for one last time on the cool down lap. The guard of honour as he entered the paddock, the sheer emotion during the post-race interviews, all added on to the depth of the moment.
Ricciardo was also the last to leave the Singapore paddock on Sunday. He wanted to soak it all in, to enjoy what could very well be the final moments of his Formula One career.
A cheerful personality on and off the track, Ricciardo's evergreen smile and vibrant personality made him popular with fans ever since he first stepped up to the senior Red Bull team in 2014.
A career spanning well over a decade, featuring 257 race starts, 32 podium finishes, and eight memorable race victories, he famously said, "I never seem to win boring races!" after a famous triumph at Shanghai in 2018.
This was a typical Daniel Ricciardo victory. Nearly knocked out in the first part of qualifying due to an engine issue, he managed to qualify sixth on the grid. A safety car in the later stages of the race allowed both Red Bulls to put on fresh tyres for the end.
It was an overtaking bonanza for the Honey Badger, who picked off those ahead with his traditional 'last of the late brakers' approach, a trait that has shaped his driving style on the racetrack.
Only three rounds later, Ricciardo would put in a sterling drive in the face of adversity. Having taken pole on the streets of Monaco, he aimed to make up for losing victory due to a slow stop two years prior.
The Australian duly delivered, taking victory after losing power, as well as seventh and eighth gear midway through the race. With Monaco's streets proving difficult to pass on, Ricciardo duly delivered a redemption day drive, making up for the miss in 2016, and celebrating in style by diving into the famous swimming pool at the Red Bull Energy Station.
Bouncing back from the tough times, Ricciardo also delivered a special victory for McLaren at Monza, in a 1-2 finish for the team, almost a decade since the Woking outfit had last taken victory in the sport.
Apart from his reputation for being the last on the brakes, Ricciardo's ever-present smile and lively personality made for a special addition to the sport. He was popularly for being a star in the USA when he rocked up to the paddock on a horse in 2022, the Stars and Stripes on his shoulders.
Many fans of the sport who had watched the famous web series: Formula One: Drive to Survive recognised Ricciardo, due to his appearances in the popular docu-series. He was a popular figure on the paddock. Not to mention his unique shoey celebration when he won a race, or finished on the podium for Renault and McLaren, a gesture etched in the sport's memory forever.
Perhaps it was his marketability and the far-reaching dream of a Red Bull return that spurred Ricciardo's return to the Red Bull fold in 2023. Initially brought on as a 'third' driver, his main objective was to find a way back on the grid, be it in the AlphaTauri (now VCARB) outfit or a return to Red Bull, a far-fetched goal.
However, the Australian's dream of a return to the senior team didn't quite pan out. While Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner advocated for Ricciardo's return to the grid, and his times during an in-season test at Silverstone made for promising talk, the move to the sister Red Bull team was a last-gasp move for Ricciardo.
The only way Ricciardo's career could have been rejuvenated was if he could return to the senior Red Bull outfit, marking a full circle move since he left the team at the end of 2018. However, the odds remained slim, even despite the incumbent Sergio Perez's struggles.
What the Australian experienced was a troubled 25-race stint for the team based in Faenza, including an arm-breaking incident at Zandvoort that opened up an opportunity for a youngster to take his seat in the future, whilst posing yet more questions about Ricciardo's return.
Rumours of the 35-year-old being replaced had been rife, even before the start of the season. With reserve driver Liam Lawson impressing in a five-race stand in for the team, even scoring points in his first Formula One outing at Singapore.
The Kiwi had made himself a firm contender for the second seat at the team with his performances. Furthermore, many questioned the rationale behind Ricciardo's presence at the AlphaTauri (now VCARB) outfit all year.
A team usually meant to groom young drivers for potential Red Bull seats in the future, how would the 35 year-old fare in their plans for the future?
The Australian's chances of returning to the Red Bull outfit alongside Max Verstappen was dealt another blow when Perez signed a two-year contract to remain at the Milton Keynes outfit. Despite widespread speculation of a mid-season swap, the Mexican stayed on at Red Bull.
Two further years at a team usually known to be a breeding ground for young drivers to hone their skills wasn't the ideal pathway Ricciardo envisioned. He'd long dreamt of being in the top teams and fighting for a world championship, a chance dwindling with every passing day as the grid shaped up for 2025.
His track record with AlphaTauri and VCARB painted a grim picture. Tsunoda holds a 12-6 qualifying record against the Australian, and has finished ahead in eight races to Ricciardo's six in 2024, in races where both drivers have seen the flag.
Factor in a warmed up Lawson waiting in the wings, and you could sense the pressure rising on the Australian's shoulders. It was almost set in stone for the Kiwi to take the second VCARB seat at some point.
With VCARB in a close battle for sixth, sitting only three points ahead of Haas, every point is crucial, and the team will be hoping for Lawson to bring his prior experience as a stand-in to put VCARB in the best possible position to hold sixth in the standings.
For now, though, Ricciardo heads into the shadows, the fastest lap a parting gift amidst the outpour of tributes for the Honey Badger. Enjoy the dive-bombs, the evergreen smile, the shoeys, and the best part of what the man describes as a "Wild and wonderful" career.
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