Daniel Ricciardo has performed down discuss the Singapore Grand Prix might be his final Components 1 race, however says he has been round too lengthy to utterly rule it out.
Crimson Bull and RB’s senior administration are set to decide after this weekend’s race in Singapore about their 2025 driver line-up.
And with it trying virtually sure that reserve driver Liam Lawson will get the nod to step as much as RB as Yuki Tsunoda’s team-mate, there has emerged a situation the place the squad elects to make the swap instantly fairly than wait till the beginning of subsequent season.
That will deliver the curtain down on Ricciardo’s F1 profession, after a season the place he has loved some good outcomes however equally endured some frustrations.
Ricciardo mentioned he was unaware of there being strikes for RB to change drivers in time for america Grand Prix, however equally drew in need of utterly ruling it out.
Talking in regards to the swirling hypothesis on his future, the Australian mentioned: “My first expectation is about subsequent yr, in order that’s the place I am for the time being.
“Clearly, I can not give too many particulars, however by way of contract, yeah, our dates just about come into this window now. So principally, I do count on a sure or a no for ’25.
“Then, yeah, I am conscious of some discuss and hypothesis about the remainder of the season, however that [being replaced post-Singapore], for me, for the time being, I am unaware of.
“So, the choice I count on is for subsequent yr. However clearly, loopy issues have occurred on this sport, so I am additionally not going to face right here too boastful and assured that, ‘oh yeah’. Like, I imagine I might be, however let’s examine.”
Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Workforce VCARB 01
Photograph by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Photos
The RB determination after this weekend revolves round components in Lawson’s contract needing to be triggered to make sure he doesn’t turn out to be a free agent.
Requested straight if there was something in his personal contract that meant Singapore could be his final race, Ricciardo mentioned: “I do not suppose so. However I additionally do not wish to stand right here and be the lawyer.
“Look, I’d say no. But in addition, we all know how this sport works. , individuals haven’t seen by a season earlier than, so it is nothing new in some methods.
“So, I do not wish to even be like, ‘oh, 100% I will wager all my home on it’. I have been round too lengthy.”
Doubtlessly shedding his drive to Lawson would virtually definitely imply that Ricciardo might be out of F1 subsequent season, with no different lifelike choices on the grid.
And, whereas that might open up alternatives to compete in different classes, he has made clear {that a} swap to race one thing else just isn’t essentially his most popular choice.
Requested about different sequence, Ricciardo mentioned: “IndyCar nonetheless scares me! Look, I’ve thought of it as a result of I additionally thought of it a pair years in the past once I knew that I wasn’t going to start out the ’23 season.
“However I do know I am nonetheless a competitor. I do know I nonetheless have a whole lot of fireplace in me, however possibly that itch is scratched doing one thing else. I do not know.
“We’ll see. It is arduous, like even speaking about, simply being within the sport and preventing for possibly a tenth place once in a while. It is possibly the identical with doing one other sequence.
“And no disrespect to different sequence, I am a fan of, NASCAR and a whole lot of different types of motorsport, however as a result of I have been there and skilled the very best of highs, will I get true fulfilment doing one thing else and no assure I will be superior doing one thing else?
“Is that going to truly scratch the itch and provides me what I would like? I do not know. I would most likely say extra no than sure, however these are issues I will take into consideration if I am not on this place.”
