Lando Norris achieved a career milestone by clinching his first victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, breaking a longstanding drought over eight attempts from pole position. Norris' stellar performance saw him hold onto the lead right from Turn 1 and maintain his dominance through the entire race, culminating in a comfortable winning margin of 20.945 seconds.
The race was not without its moments of tension for Norris. On Lap 45, he had a close encounter with the wall at Turn 10, a fleeting incident that he nevertheless managed to recover from unscathed. Despite this, Norris remains 52 points behind Max Verstappen in the championship standings with six races and two sprint events to go.
Piastri's Rise and Ricciardo's Possible Farewell
Oscar Piastri, starting from the sixth position, delivered an impressive performance to finish third, adding a podium finish to his burgeoning Formula 1 résumé. Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo endured a more challenging race. Starting from a lower grid position, Ricciardo finished 18th, despite setting the fastest lap on the race’s final circuit. This fastest lap did not come with a bonus point, as he was not within the top ten, but it did prevent Norris and McLaren from adding an extra point to their championship tally.
There are indications that this race may have marked Ricciardo’s last in Formula 1. The Australian driver’s late pit stop, which afforded him the opportunity to set the fastest lap, was perhaps a gesture from his team to give him a memorable final race. As Team principal Laurent Mekies noted, “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.”
Voices and Reflections
Reflecting on his career, Ricciardo expressed a mix of pride and acceptance. “I'm proud of the career. I tried to become world champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world,” he said. “I think it is a tall task that we ask from ourselves, some achieve it, some don't. In the end, if I came up a little short, I also can't be too hard on myself, happy with the effort I put in and for that there's no sadness or feeling of regret or what could have been.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown, commenting on Ricciardo’s fastest lap, hinted at the strategic maneuvers within the sport. “That's a nice A- /B-Team sporting thing that I didn't think was allowed ... but hey, that's not the first time we've seen it, probably won't be the last,” he remarked. Brown also indicated that this incident highlighted broader issues within the sport, stating, “I'll certainly ask some questions. It's something I've spoken about in the past, and I think it illustrates that it does happen because I think you wouldn't have made that pit stop to go for that. It's not going to get anyone a point, so I think it does illustrate the issue around that topic.”
Future Uncertainties
Ricciardo's future remains uncertain amidst what appears to be a power struggle within the Red Bull camp. Speculation is rife that Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson could potentially replace Ricciardo after Singapore. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, commented on the matter: “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.”
Ricciardo acknowledged the significance of being named Driver of the Day, a rare gesture that resonated with him. “I'll be honest, I don't think the Driver of the Day normally means much to us drivers. It's nice, but it's not something to brag about, but I think today ... the fans read the media and know this could be my last one so I think that's a really nice gesture from them and today it is appreciated.”
As tributes poured in, Max Verstappen reflected on his relationship with Ricciardo, saying, “He's a great guy, honestly. We always had a great relationship. We had a sporting rivalry in the team. He will be remembered as a great driver, as a great person also. He has a great character. I think it's very rare if someone hates him.”
The Singapore Grand Prix thus delivered a narrative filled with triumph, tension, and potential farewells, marking a significant chapter in the unfolding season and in the careers of the drivers involved.