Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo third as Lewis Hamilton stuns F1
Aussie Daniel Ricciardo pulled off his second podium in three races, but it was a comment from race winner Lewis Hamilton after the Grand Prix that has stunned the F1 world.
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Lewis Hamilton has stunned Formula One when, hours after winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, he admitted that he did not know if he would still be in the sport next season.
Speaking during a post-race news conference, the six-time world champion told reporters there was “no guarantee” that he would continue and added that “there’s a lot that excites me with the after-life – time will tell!”
Hamilton’s victory, a record-extending 93rd of his career, in Sunday’s race clinched Mercedes’ record seventh consecutive constructors title - an achievement he attributed to the team’s “unsung heroes” and the leadership of team boss Toto Wolff.
Both men are out of contract at the end of this season and, for that reason, the subjects of much speculation.
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When Hamilton was asked if Wolff’s likely departure from his current position next year would have any bearing on his own decision, he said it did not concern him.
“I don’t even know if I’m going to be here next year so it’s not a concern for me at the moment,” said Hamilton.
He later clarified his position when he added: “I would like to be here next year, but there’s no guarantee of that for sure. There’s a lot that excites me of the ‘after-life’ so time will tell.” Hamilton, 35, is almost certain to clinch his record-equalling seventh drivers title in Turkey in two weeks’ time, drawing level with Michael Schumacher.
He has many interests outside motor racing including fashion, music and human rights issues and has said often that he plans to remain active when he retires.
His only remaining rival, team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who finished second in a Mercedes one-two on Sunday, must beat him by eight points to prolong the title fight.
Wolff has said he wanted to step back and spend more time with his family and admitted that he was looking for a likely successor in his role.
“I understand and we have a lot of deep conversations, Toto and I, so I am very, very aware of where he is mentally – and we share and carry a lot of the weight together I think,” Hamilton explained.
“I’ve been here a long, long time and I can definitely understand wanting to pull back a little bit and give time to things like family and those things.
“I don’t know who will replace him. He’s a leader. He’s not going to put anyone in who’s not going to be able to do the job, who’s not going to be up to it. He will find the right people.
“That’s why we have the success that we have because he’s found the right people and put them in the right places, in the positions to be able to shine as bright as possible.” He added he felt fit and strong and could continue.
“Well, we are in November and it’s crazy that Christmas is not that far away. “I feel great and I feel very strong. I feel like I could keep going for plenty of months, but you mention Toto and shelf-life, so there’s multiple things that stay top of my mind.”
‘Holy mac and cheese balls’
Daniel Ricciardo pulled off a second podium in three races, finishing third with an incredible drive at Imola.
In the most Ricciardo of celebrations, he said over his team radio: “Holy mac and cheese balls, that’s another f***ing podium.”
It appeared as though Max Verstappen was headed for a second placed finish but just before the final 10 laps, a rear tyre puncture ruled him out of the race.
Ricciardo had moved from fifth into fourth early on as Pierre Gasly had to pull out of the race due to a coolant leak that saw him retire after nine laps.
But the Aussie was pushed back into fifth after Haas’ Kevin Magnussen held up the midfield, allowing Racing Point’s Sergio Perez to move into fourth with fresher tyres than Ricciardo.
Seemingly headed for a fifth-placed finish, Verstappen’s incident was a stroke of luck for the Aussie and he was smiling again when Perez pitted for fresh tyres, dropping back to sixth.
That decision brought Ricciardo back onto the podium and after Verstappen’s issues and Williams’ George Russell crashing, it left five laps of helter skelter racing.
The West Australian admitted he was surprised to see Perez pit so late in proceedings and gift him a move up to third.
“I was honestly surprised that he boxed,” Ricciardo said. “He was quicker than us today and that’s the truth.
“I was like, ‘If he stays out, same car, same tyres, he should hold on to third’. Very surprised he boxed.”
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It was actually AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat who put the pressure on Ricciardo in the dying stages, but he was unable to get close enough to his former Red Bull teammate and the Renault driver held on for his podium.
“It was a bizarre one, I got into fourth off the start and I felt that was the best we could do,” Ricciardo said post-race. “But Perez had really good pace and he passed us in the pit sequence and then he pitted for the softs at the end with the safety car.
“We kept our position. I’m not sure what happened to Max but obviously that put us in the fight. Kvyat came out of nowhere at the end but it was fun.
“Two podiums in three races. It all just happened very quickly at the end there, it was fun.”
Ricciardo added: “It’s pretty crazy.”
Ricciardo then lived up to his promise of not forgetting the shoey, celebrating with his trademark drinking ritual along with Lewis Hamilton.