- Red Bull fired the Australian after the Singapore Grand Prix
- Move had been on the horizon for some time, fans are still in shock
Daniel Ricciardo’s legion of fans knew the end was near for the Australian cult hero, but they lashed out in dismay and claimed he will not receive a proper farewell from the sport because he was sacked mid-season.
Ricciardo bid farewell to a “wild and wonderful” 14-year journey in Formula One after Red Bull Racing sacked the popular Australian driver.
The eight-time F1 race winner was sacked by his RB team on Thursday, an outcome even the 35-year-old himself expected after his disappointing 2024 campaign.
It marks the end of a distinguished path for the former Red Bull and McLaren star who, over 14 seasons in F1, became one of the most popular and effervescent characters on the circuit, with his infectious smile lighting up the circus.
But once the news became official, fans wasted no time in expressing their outrage at the timing of his dismissal, which came with five races remaining in the world championship.
Some pointed out that if Red Bull had removed the marker before last weekend’s race in Singapore, where the Australian closed in style by recording the fastest lap of the race just before the checkered flag, he would have received the farewell he deserved. .
“The decision to leave Daniel Ricciardo may be justified, but what’s wrong is letting a multiple race winner and sporting legend walk away without a proper goodbye,” wrote one commenter on X.
“Daniel Ricciardo had to leave RB and Formula One during the autumn break, mid-season without a proper farewell to all his years as a driver or celebration of any kind,” added another.
Ricciardo is pictured just after setting the fastest lap of the Singapore Grand Prix in what turned out to be the last race of a great race.
The fact that Ricciardo was sacked with five races left in the championship, denying him a proper farewell, left many F1 fans devastated.
The Australian’s followers were devastated by the moment of his departure.
“I have BIG problems now that Red Bull and VCARB have handled Daniel Ricciardo leaving F1. He has won SEVEN races for the RB organization, including a legendary race in Monaco with 160 fewer horses, and spent NINE years with both teams. Why didn’t he get a proper send-off? wrote a third.
‘Needless to say, Daniel Ricciardo has done a lot for the growth of Red Bull and Formula 1. I’m glad he had the opportunity to come back after his time at McLaren and redeem himself. I wish I had a proper send-off instead of an awkward and messy send-off in Singapore,” added another.
Many other commentators echoed his sentiments, while other racing fans couldn’t understand how he lost his job but Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, performing poorly, kept his.
“I’ve loved this sport my whole life,” Ricciardo said on Instagram after RB broke the news of the split.
‘To the teams and individuals who have contributed, thank you. To the fans who sometimes love the sport more than me haha, thank you.
“It’s always going to have its ups and downs, but it’s been fun and, to be honest, I wouldn’t change it.”
“Until the next adventure.”
No more shoeys: Ricciardo’s departure from the grid will leave Formula One without one of its most likable drivers in years
His farewell had effectively been confirmed at last Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix when his RB team gave his car a set of new tires so he could go out and set the fastest lap of the race as his last hurray.
He did just that.
RB team manager Laurent Mekies said in a statement that they “would like to thank Daniel for his hard work over the last two seasons with us.”
“He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone develop and foster a strong team spirit.”
‘Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the court and never without that smile. “We will miss him, but he will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family.”