Writing on the wall after Daniel Ricciardo Singapore GP qualifying disaster

Daniel Ricciardo may be preparing for the final race of his F1 career on Sunday after another nightmare performance in qualifying.

The smile is still there for Ricciardo. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

If the rumours weren’t already loud enough, it looks like there’s nothing left that will save Daniel Ricciardo’s career after another disastrous qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The promising signs for a good weekend for Ricciardo on the first day of practice, which saw him finished seventh in FP1 and sixth in FP2 evaporated on Saturday, going 17th fastest in FP3 before yet another Q1 exit from qualifying.

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The Aussie qualified 16th for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix in yet another disappointing performance.

Only this one came at the worst possible time with the whispers of him being replaced by Liam Lawson taking over the grid this weekend.

Red Bull is reportedly set to drop the axe on Ricciardo after the weekend with a four-week break between Singapore and the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

It’s not what Ricciardo needed. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

“We have an idea, but we have to wait until Singapore,” Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko told Viaplay.

“It is still September, but from Singapore, we will have a precise idea. It will be quite clear as to what will happen with the second seat.”

Now details surrounding Lawson’s contract with the team emerged with two clauses pouring fuel all the fire.

One clause, reported by AutoRacing1, states Lawson would become a free agent if he doesn’t sign a contract for a race seat by the end of September.

It’s the second clause however that really spells disaster for Ricciardo.

The second one reportedly guarantees him a minimum number of races this season, believed to be five or six.

Following the Singapore Grand Prix there will be six races remaining in the 2024 season.

Lawson with Helmut Marko. Photo: Fox Sports

And finishing in 16th didn’t help, especially considering Yuki Tsunoda pushed into Q3, ultimately qualifying 8th.

As he was knocked out, Sky’s Martin Brundle said that Ricciardo was “fully lit, fully committed was Daniel there — he wasn’t leaving anything on the table.

“That looks like it might be all she wrote about his potential there,” Brundle added.

Speaking after his disappointing qualifying, Ricciardo appeared downcast saying he expected “much much more” after a strong practice on Friday.

“Yesterday was good, and I know it’s only practice but from the first run we were always up there,” he said. “We didn’t really change much over might but even the mediums were okay but every soft I used today I was not competitive at all. So not much to say.”

Asked about blocking out the noise, Ricciardo said: “Hmm, I’ll get a day of community service if I swear so I’ll leave it there.”

Speaking before qualifying, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports that things would of course be reviewed, despite not committing to a decision one way or another.

“There is obviously a much bigger picture other than just Daniel as we continue to look at all of our options as we move forward,” Horner said.

“There’s a natural break coming with almost a month’s gap to the next race so it’s only natural that you’ll take stock and consider all those options for the rest of the year.”

Horner said the issue was that while Ricciardo was brought in in case Perez dropped the ball, the Aussie had put together “a reasonable season, but it hasn’t been a stellar season” or enough to force the Mexican out of the seat.

Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

While Horner refused to say too much when pressed over whether there was anything Ricciardo could do to save his job, the writing appeared to be on the wall.

Adding insult to injury, Red Bull No. 2 driver Sergio Perez also flopped, going out in Q2 in 13th place.

Ultimately McLaren’s drivers’ championship chaser Lando Norris won pole ahead of championship leader Max Versteppen in his Red Bull, with Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell locking out the second row of the grid.

Aussie Oscar Piastri was fifth.

Singapore Grand Prix Grid

Row 1: Lando Norris (McLaren) — Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Row 2: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) — George Russell (Mercedes)

Row 3: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

Row 4: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) — Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

Row 5: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

Row 6: Alex Albon (Williams) — Franco Colapinto (Williams)

Row 7: Sergio Perez (Red Bull) — Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

Row 8: Esteban Ocon (Alpine) — Daniel Ricciardo (RB)

Row 9: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) — Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

Row 10: Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) — Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)