The Racing Bulls had to take a lot of criticism for Daniel Ricciardo’s strange farewell in Singapore, but the Australian himself didn’t want any fuss.
Racing Bulls managing director Peter Bayer says that Daniel Ricciardo’s strange non-farewell in Singapore was at the Australian’s own request. Ricciardo’s last Formula 1 race in Singapore was his last for the time being, but this was only communicated after the race – nevertheless, his departure was an open secret in the run-up to the race.
That is, basically everyone around knew that Ricciardo would celebrate his farewell, but officially no one was allowed to say so, which led to strange situations and statements and denied Ricciardo an appropriate farewell.
The Racing Bulls and Red Bull were criticized for the way they dealt with the eight-time Grand Prix winner, but according to Bayer, they only took their driver’s wishes into account.
“From a commercial marketing communications point of view, it might have been possible to do it differently,” he admits to Sky, but they have always been ‘very transparent’, ‘very open’ and ‘honest’ with Ricciardo on the subject, so he knew that his farewell would take place in Singapore.
Bayer also emphasizes that Ricciardo did not want a big farewell in Singapore. “We spoke to him again on the Wednesday before the race and he said, ‘No, let’s keep a low profile,’” he says.
On Saturday evening – or rather at 2 a.m. – they had another long chat with Ricciardo. “And he said: ‘No, I just want to do the race, and those who are important to me know, and for the others…’” Bayer does not finish the sentence.
“As I said, you could have set off a huge fireworks display, but that wasn’t what was wanted,” he says in his defense. ‘And for us, the driver’s wishes were our top priority. As a team, you could do it differently, but I think it was right for him.’
Bayer reveals that he spoke to his former driver again on Wednesday. “He’s happy, he’s doing well, he’s at peace. He’s satisfied with the way things went,” he clarifies.
And internally, the 35-year-old has also been given a fitting farewell: “Daniel has contributed a great deal to the sport being where it is today. And accordingly, we celebrated him,” says Bayer. “But as I said: the Singapore story was what it was.”
