Daniel Ricciardo joked he denied Lando Norris the fastest lap point in Singapore as it could prove to be the deciding point in the Drivers’ Championship.
Ricciardo had the final say in a Formula 1 World Championship battle at the Singapore Grand Prix with his late attack to set the fastest lap of the race.
Daniel Ricciardo reveals Max Verstappen’s gratitude – and possibly Red Bull’s tooAdditional reporting by Pablo Hidalgo
He did, beating Norris’s time, but while that didn’t earn the Australian a point as he was outside the top ten, it did deny Norris one.
And that could be the decisive blow in the Drivers’ Championship, as it means that even if Norris wins each of the final six races, takes the fastest lap point and wins all three Sprints, Max Verstappen only needs to finish second each time to win the title by a single point.
Verstappen thanked Ricciardo after the race, while Red Bull could also thank him.
“I was told I was getting a $3.5 million bonus for that, so it’s going to be a fantastic night,” Ricciardo told DAZN with a laugh.
“It was nice to push at the end. Obviously we weren’t fighting for anything, we weren’t in the points.
“I got a thank you from Max, so that was acknowledged.”
Daniel Ricciardo reflects on his 14-year F1 careerHowever, that was Ricciardo’s last chance as a Formula 1 driver.
Four days after the Singapore race, VCARB confirmed rumours that it was his last event with the Red Bull junior team, having been replaced by Liam Lawson for the final six races of the season.
It was a disappointing farewell for the Honey Badger, with his fans reacting angrily on social media as they accused Red Bull of not giving him the send-off he deserved, with confirmation of his departure only coming days after the race.
But for Ricciardo, there was plenty to smile about as he reflected on an F1 career that included eight Grand Prix wins, 32 podiums, three pole positions and ended with a 17th fastest lap.
“I look back all these years later when I was in karting and I can still imagine myself in that position and dreaming of being here,” he said.
“Getting here and staying here for so long is obviously emotional, but I don’t want to remember the sad feelings, just the happy moments.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs, but that’s part of the sport. I’ve had an incredible opportunity to do a lot in this sport and not everyone has had that opportunity.”
