Max Verstappen's Daniel Ricciardo comments say it all as Red Bull F1 axe looms
Daniel Ricciardo is unlikely to be on the Formula 1 grid at next month's United States Grand Prix as Red Bull prepare to swing the axe and replace him with Liam Lawson
by Daniel Moxon · The MirrorMax Verstappen paid tribute to a "great friend and guy" as the axe looms for his old team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
They drove together at Red Bull Racing up until the end of 2018, when the latter decided to start afresh elsewhere. Brief spells with Renault and McLaren followed, before Ricciardo lost his place on the grid and re-signed with Red Bull as a reserve.
He was promoted to sister team VCARB last year as Nyck de Vries was axed but hasn't been able to produce the results needed to push for a return to his old seat alongside Verstappen. And now Ricciardo's F1 career looks set to end following Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.
Red Bull are likely to replace him with reserve driver Liam Lawson before the next race in Austin. And though that move has yet to be confirmed, Verstappen was keen to pay tribute to his old team-mate after the Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit.
The Dutchman said: "Daniel and I go way back and we always had a great relationship, a great friendship and a lot of respect for each other as well. He's just a great guy, you know? It just clicks, there's no fake person. We just get along, easygoing, I like that. He's a very fast driver, I think everyone knows that, but he's also just a great guy in the paddock."
No-one in the F1 paddock would argue with that assertion. Ricciardo is known for his beaming smile and affable personality, but the reality is that result simply haven't been good enough, especially with so many talented racers chasing one of just 20 F1 seats available.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been one of Ricciardo's allies for many years and did everything he could to get him back on the F1 grid after he lost his place the first time. But even he looks unlikely to save the 35-year-old this time.
VCARB team boss Laurent Mekies wasn't giving much away after the race and was still speaking in hypotheticals in terms of his driver's future. But Ricciardo was given a guard of honour by some team staff as he returned to the team's hospitality in the Singapore paddock, hinting that staff are aware of his fate.
He finished 18th in the race but did record the fastest lap of the race at the very end, taking a point away from Lando Norris. It could prove to be a key moment in the drivers' title race with the McLaren driver closing the gap to Verstappen with each passing week.
And Ricciardo hopes his effort will have an impact and help Verstappen to retain the championship. He said: "The last few laps, Pierre [Hamelin, his race engineer] asked if we should go for fastest lap. And I thought, 'Why not?" If Max wins by a point, I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present."
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