Norris Triumphs in Singapore; Ricciardo's Farewell Lap Steals Spotlight
Lando Norris secured a stunning victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, delivering a masterful drive that saw him lead from start to finish. Norris's triumph at Marina Bay was marked by his composure, even when faced with a near-miss on Lap 45 at Turn 10. This win is particularly remarkable given that in his previous eight attempts from pole position, Norris had never managed to convert it into a victory.
As the race commenced, Norris held onto his lead heading into Turn 1 and maintained his advantage by the end of the first lap. He ultimately crossed the finish line with a decisive winning margin of 20.945 seconds, underscoring his dominance throughout the race.
Norris's victory, however, was not without drama. On Lap 45, he had a close call with the wall at Turn 10, a moment of uncertainty that could have changed the race's outcome. His race engineer, Will Joseph, advised, "Just chill out, bring this car home," helping Norris to remain focused and secure the win.
While Norris celebrated his success, his fellow competitors also made headlines. Oscar Piastri, starting from sixth position, achieved an impressive third-place finish, solidifying his standing as a rising star in Formula 1. Conversely, Daniel Ricciardo, who started from a much lower grid position, finished 18th but managed to set the fastest lap on the race's final circuit. Unfortunately, this earned him no bonus points since he did not finish in the top ten.
The Singapore Grand Prix may mark the end of an era for Ricciardo, with speculation mounting about his future in the sport. Team principal Laurent Mekies expressed the sentiment surrounding Ricciardo's potential farewell, stating, "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." Ricciardo himself reflected on his career with pride, saying, "I’m proud of the career. I tried to become world champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world." He added, "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."
Ricciardo's fastest lap created some tension between teams, particularly between McLaren and Red Bull. McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, voiced his concerns about the strategic move, noting, "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 continued, "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."
The potential replacement of Ricciardo by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson has been suggested, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing power struggle within the team. Christian Horner emphasized the need to evaluate the drivers' performances during this natural break in the season. "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," Horner remarked.
Despite the mixed results, Ricciardo remains a beloved figure in the paddock. Max Verstappen, his former teammate, shared his admiration, 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." Ricciardo also acknowledged the fans' support when he was named Driver of the Day, stating, "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 the dust settles on an eventful Singapore Grand Prix, Lando Norris’s remarkable victory will be celebrated, while the future of Daniel Ricciardo remains a poignant subplot in the ever-evolving narrative of Formula 1.