‘Deserved better’: Red Bull’s ‘disgusting’ Ricciardo treatment slammed

Supporters of Daniel Ricciardo are furious at Red Bull’s “disgusting” treatment of the beloved Aussie at his farewell race.

Daniel Ricciardo’s treatment slammed by F1 fans. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

COMMENT

Daniel Ricciardo’s last F1 race in Singapore on Sunday should have been a triumphant farewell as the sun sets on the Australian’s career in the sport.

Instead, it was a PR disaster by Red Bull. An awkward, poorly handled exit for one of the most beloved drivers of the 21st century.

Despite there being no official confirmation from Red Bull or its sister team Ricciardo drives for, VCARB, it was widely reported Ricciardo was racing in F1 for the final time this weekend.

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Such is his presence in the paddock, the emotional nature of Ricciardo’s 18th placed finish meant Lando Norris shaving Max Verstappen’s championship lead to 52 points was relegated to a secondary storyline.

Ricciardo took the point for fastest lap off Norris and while it probably won’t prove decisive in the world championship battle, it would have been a nice feeling for Ricciardo, who was infamously sacked by McLaren midway through the 2022 season.

Red Bull’s treatment of Ricciardo was poor. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

The writing was on the wall for Ricciardo, who answered sombre questions about his future following reports he would be replaced by Liam Lawson in VCARB for the rest of the season because of a clause in the Kiwi youngster’s contract.

Red Bull didn’t exactly move to deny those reports, and it seems no one really knows what the plan is apart from confirming discussions about driver pairings would take place after Singapore.

Asked if this would be Ricciardo’s last outing, VCARB CEO Peter Bayer said: “We’ve had various deadlines and discussions throughout the year. Initially, we considered making a final decision during the summer break, discussing driver choices for 2025. “However, we tried to buy more time for both teams. It’s a major decision — strategic decisions on who will drive where. Singapore is another milestone, and after Singapore, we’ll have the final discussions to determine our line-up for 2025 and other options.”

No team has made an official decision on Ricciardo. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

But it was farcical and disrespectful from Red Bull not to tell Ricciardo this would be his last race and give him a proper farewell.

Instead of doing donuts on the track, Ricciardo was on the verge of tears as he savoured his final moments in an F1 car and spoke to the media sounding like a man who knew he’d be out of a job

But despite the emotional scenes, Red Bull is yet to offer any confirmation Ricciardo is being replaced.

VCARB team principal Laurent Mekies said in a statement: “Given this may have been Daniel’s last race, we wanted to give him the chance to savour it and go out with the fastest lap.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said vaguely: “Well, we’ve now got a period of time where we’ll evaluate all of the relevant performances of the drivers.

“It is a natural break in the season to reflect on that and there’s a bigger picture obviously, beyond Daniel. So he’s just one part of the jigsaw.”

According to ESPN, Horner would like to keep Ricciardo around at Red Bull, but the team’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is less sentimental and is ready to move on from the 35-year-old and give Lawson a go.

Daniel Ricciardo’s treatment slammed by F1 fans. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

If this was indeed Ricciardo’s last race in F1, Red Bull’s treatment of him was extremely disrespectful.

Of course it would have been bittersweet to announce Ricciardo’s final race in advance, but it would have been better than the makeshift guard of honour he received in Singapore.

Ricciardo deserved a proper send-off. He may not have become world champion but this is a man known as the “last of the late brakers” and Max Verstappen’s fiercest teammate at Red Bull.

He also became one of the most central figures in the sport’s modern era, helping F1 capture a new legion of fans through his endearing nature in Netflix’s Drive to Survive.

Ricciardo deserved better than this. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

So it’s no surprise F1 fans felt Ricciardo deserved better, and the bizarre farewell left a bad taste in the mouth.

ESPN’s Nate Saunders wrote: “You can make a case on results alone for going a different direction driver-wise. But the handling of the whole Ricciardo situation by Red Bull has been so bad.

“Many will say he deserved a better and more dignified goodbye, and it’s hard to disagree.”

Radio host Clinton Maynard said: “Danny Ric’s best days are gone, but Red Bull are damn harsh for not giving him a clear answer, leaving him to hang and conduct painful interviews. “Let him have a proper farewell race in Austin. Better still bench Perez for Austin & give Dan 1 last real crack.”

The way Daniel Ricciardo is being treated is so disgusting. That’s a human being… why is that team acting like he’s just a puppet that can be tossed aside. They haven’t even outright told him he’s sacked? 😭

— Marina (@xxoMarina) September 22, 2024

- Meeting about all of Red Bull’s four drivers this week
- VCARB don’t know wtf is going on
- Head of Cash-app doesn’t know wtf is going on
- Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t know wtf is going on

Absolute PR masterclass by RBR this weekend

— Rhys 🇦🇺❗️ (@SulloReport) September 22, 2024

One Ricciardo fan wrote on X: “I just wish we could’ve known ahead of the race. I wish we could’ve been able to celebrate Daniel. I wish we could’ve savoured this one, if it’s his last.

“Getting rugpulled like this after they said all week no decision has been made is cruel.

“13 year vet of the sport, potentially facing a mid-season drop with no notice and surrounded by speculation. He deserved better than this. He deserved a proper celebration and send off. “His fans deserved better than this. Just nasty work by Red Bull and should be a permanent stain.”

It also didn’t make Ricciardo fans feel any better seeing Sergio Perez finish an underwhelming 10th in Singapore as McLaren extended its lead over Red Bull in the constructors'’ standings.

It would be a surprise to everyone, including Ricciardo, if he is given the all clear to drive at the United States Grand Prix in a month.

If this was the last time we saw Ricciardo in an F1 car, he deserved better.