‘Couple of weeks ago’: F1 world trashes Red Bull over ‘disgraceful’ Daniel Ricciardo detail

Daniel Ricciardo’s time in F1 appears to be over but a throw away reveal from his successor has made the news all the worse.

It was the news the F1 world knew was coming but Daniel Ricciardo’s time in Formula One appears to be over.

The Visa Cash App RB team and Red Bull officially announced the 35-year-old Ricciardo’s time was up after he failed to blow teammate Yuki Tsunoda away and force his way back into Sergio Perez’ seat in the senior Red Bull team.

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This is despite Perez being the clear weak link for Red Bull as the top team dropped to second in the constructor’s championship and have all but given up hope of regaining the lead in 2024.

And yet he’s seemingly retained his sport as the team searches for who they want in the seat next, mostly due to Ricciardo’s failure to impress against Tsunoda.

It gives New Zealander Liam Lawson six races to show he’s the man who deserves the seat in an intriguing finish to the season.

But for an eight-time race winner and a man who is 10th all-time in race entries (258) and starts (257) in F1, it’s safe to say it was an unceremonious end to Ricciardo’s stellar career.

Although the news only flowed out this morning, Ricciardo’s last race was full of the emotion, poignant scenes and one final moment of brilliance as he snatched the fastest lap point off McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Norris’ Singapore Grand Prix win cut Max Verstappen’s drivers’ championship lead to 52 points.

However, it could have been 51 points — which is a magic number at this stage of the championship.

With six races and three sprints remaining in 2024, if Norris finished first in every race with the fastest lap bonus point and Verstappen finished second, Norris would score 51 points more than Verstappen — meaning the Dutchman would still win the world championship.

It was his last act in an F1 car. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

Ricciardo took his time getting out of his car, seemingly savouring every moment. He answered questions about his future the best he could without official word having filtered through, and he was given a standing ovation as he returned to the team HQ.

It was clear to everyone in the F1 world that it was Ricciardo’s last race — but the team refused to give the Aussie the send off he deserved.

It’s a bizarre decision particularly when he spent nine of his 14 years in Formula One racing for the Red Bull organisation.

Regardless of your feelings towards Ricciardo, the man has the runs on the board, and fans were fuming over his treatment — and had been since the weekend.

And what was particularly galling is that Lawson revealed he had been told of his elevation “weeks ago”.

New Zealand national radio station Newstalk ZB spoke with Lawson, who said he “knew about it for the past two weeks”.

“It had been the plan for a long time now where this is where it was leading at least,” Lawson said.

“Obviously I had a contract date that needed to be fulfilled so basically it was going towards this way, and then a couple of weeks ago they told me what was going to happen.

“And then basically not long after that, it was set in stone.”

One fan wrote of the revelation: “This makes this whole thing a touch more disgraceful. Zero excuse for @redbullracing and @visacashapprb to not announce Ricciardo moving on before Singapore so he gets the exit he genuinely deserved.”

A second added: “So Red Bull knew yet still didn't announce prior to Singapore. That is a dog act.”

It’s not Lawson’s fault. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

F1 podcaster Tom Bellingham commented: “The decision to drop Daniel Ricciardo can be justified but what isn’t OK is to let a multiple race winner and a legend of the sport leave without a proper goodbye.

“Makes absolutely no sense not to announce this before Singapore.”

The Formula God X account agreed, adding: “I’ve got to be honest - I have BIG problems with now Red Bull and VCARB have handled Daniel Ricciardo leaving F1.

“He’s won SEVEN races for the RB organisation, including a legendary drive at Monaco with 160 less horsepower, and spent NINE years with the two teams.

“Why did he not get a proper send off?”

Talking Motorsport’s Trystan Spooner posted: “Red Bull and the RB team have handled Ricciardo’s farewell terribly! He’s a man who’s given so much to the organisation and made the sport so much fun to watch has certainly been treated poorly by Red Bull. He deserved better.”

Another fan said: “No matter what you think of Daniel Ricciardo he did NOT deserve to go out of F1 like this.

“He deserves donuts, cheering crowds, helmet swaps. Everything he wasn’t allowed to have thanks to the complete mismanagement of the team.

“Heartbroken for DR that it’s ended this way.”

Another suggested: “Now it’s official Ricciardo getting dropped is a disgrace the way they treated him and that they said we would look after him, well you didn’t and now you kick him out, @danielricciardo deserves better and did deserve a better send off than that, Shame on you @redbullracing.”

Another wrote: “What a disgrace! You did not even have the dignity to give Daniel Ricciardo a nice farewell in Singapore!

“Shame on you and the whole @redbullracing.”

Another commented: “Very happy for Lawson that he finally got out of reserve driver jail, but Ricciardo deserved a proper, real, respectful goodbye.

“He has had two of the worst goodbyes of recent years, and I feel bad for his fans too.”

Hell of a career Danny Ricc! Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Other fans pointed out Red Bull didn’t even do a farewell video for Ricciardo, a bizarre oversight for a man who spent nearly a decade in the team.

As always, Ricciardo posted a respectful farewell message on his own social media account.

“I’ve loved this sport my whole life,” he wrote with a photo of him walking away with his helmet in his hand.

“It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey. To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you.

“To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me haha thank you. It’ll always have its highs and lows but it’s been fun and truth be told I wouldn’t change it.

“Until the next adventure.”

Ricciardo also confirmed he wouldn’t be chasing a reserve driver role either.

“It made a lot of sense to keep one foot in the door, with the big picture to try and get back in at Red Bull,” he said.

“I think if I was to do that again, there’s not really... I’m not going to restart my career. I’m also 35.”

Ricciardo was flooded with messages and well wishes from other drivers, paying tribute to his career in the sport.

Maybe Red Bull should take notice.