Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that there is a “realistic chance” that the Singapore Grand Prix has marked his last race in Formula 1 amid rumours over his drive at RB.
Ricciardo came into the weekend with speculation emerging that it could be his final outing with RB as Red Bull is set to announce that Liam Lawson will replace him.
The Australian was unable to extract a much-needed strong result as a late pit stop to take the fastest lap saw him trail home as the last classified runner on the road.
Ricciardo’s return to the Red Bull stable last term came amid the ambition to retrieve the drive he vacated and Sergio Perez’s woes made that appear a viable opening.
But with his results having not been good enough to convince Red Bull to promote him, Ricciardo has acknowledged that he could even be in line to lose his RB place.
Asked whether he will be seen at the next race in Austin, Ricciardo told media including Motorsport Week: “Obviously there is a realistic chance it’s not going to happen.
“I think obviously it’s been a very race by race situation with Red Bull I think for all of us in a way.
“Obviously Checo [Perez] as well, and at times it feels like it’s going one way then it goes the other, obviously there was a lot of emphasis on this weekend.
“I would have loved a better weekend and who knows if that would have changed anything or if the decision’s been made already prior to the weekend.
“I’m obviously prepared, prepared for it, that’s why over the weekend I tried to acknowledge a few things as well with myself.”
Ricciardo won’t pursue F1 openings outside Red Bull
The eight-time F1 race victor has indicated he won’t pursue other opportunities in F1 as he has no desire to continue without the chance to compete at the sharp end.
“I think acknowledge also why I came back into the sport, sometimes you see the big picture,” he continued.
“I always said I don’t want to be a guy who’s just here on the grid and fighting for a point every now and then which has kinda been how this year’s gone.
“Obviously this year the purpose was to try and do good enough to get back into Red Bull and fight for wins again, see if I’ve still got it.
“I felt like I came up short with that, so I think it’s then, ‘ok what else am I fighting for here, what else is going to give me fulfilment’.
“I’ve been a young driver as well and at some point I don’t just want to take up space also, obviously you have to be selfish.
“But for me if I’m not able to fight at the front with Red Bull I have to ask myself what am I staying on the grid for, that’s something I’ve also come to peace with.”
Ricciardo makes revelation on pace since return
Ricciardo has conceded that he has been unable to deliver the speed that made him one of the hottest commodities on the grid on a consistent basis since his return.
“Obviously last year it made a lot of sense to keep one foot in the door and big picture was to try and get back to Red Bull,” he explained.
“I think if I was to do that again there’s not really… I’m not going to restart my career.
“I’m also 35, I still showed the pace I had over the years.
“But it’s also been evident that it’s been harder for me to show it every weekend and maybe that is a little bit of an age thing.
“It definitely came easier for me when I was 25 as opposed to 35, and it also maybe the competition is also increasing.
“I think that’s a common thing with all sports, the simulators are getting better, the kids are getting younger.
“So naturally they have access to all onboards now, they can watch and study everyone, maybe the level’s increased and it’s probably a tall task to fight at that level week in week out.
“I can’t be disappointed with that, I’m happy that once upon a time I could do it, and that was a lot of fun
“If this is it, I want to make sure I leave the sport with good memories of it, and it doesn’t get to that place where it’s just a grind and I’m out of Q1 every weekend, that’s obviously not fun.”
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