Rumors circulated before the Singapore GP that Daniel Ricciardo would be replaced by Liam Lawson at RB. If true, the Singapore GP would have marked Ricciardo’s final race, and it indeed turned out to be the case. The Australian appeared emotional, with tears in his eyes during the post-race interview. However, seeing him unhappy, former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner advised Ricciardo not to inflict pain on himself.
Gunther Steiner emphasized that people should not measure Daniel Ricciardo’s worth solely by his appearance in the Netflix series :Drive to Survive.’ He stated that Ricciardo is a talented driver who has won races and still possesses good driving skills and the potential to succeed.
However, Steiner acknowledged that the Australian was not in a happy situation, possibly due to his inability to perform as expected. Ricciardo has worked hard to regain his original form but has struggled to succeed. Therefore, everyone should not forget his past achievements as what he was capable of.
I think with Danny, we shouldn’t only think of him for what he did with Drive to Survive. He won races in F1. I think he’s still a good driver [but] obviously he’s not in a happy place.
Gunther Steiner told Planetf1.com
Steiner noticed that Daniel Ricciardo appeared deeply hurt and broken during the post-race interview, possibly because he knew it was his last race. Concerned about Ricciardo’s emotional state, the 59-year-old emphasized that the Australian shouldn’t endure emotional pain or discomfort. Seeing Ricciardo in such distress did not sit well with Steiner, especially since he is known for his humorous and kind nature. He typically maintains a positive demeanor and doesn’t get upset very often.
When I saw him speaking after Singapore qualifying, he was just broken, so there’s no point in putting yourself through this pain. He doesn’t need to do that.
Gunther Steiner stated.
Gunther Steiner reflects on Daniel Ricciardo’s career and brave decision to leave Red Bull
Steiner highlighted that Ricciardo was once a very good racer during his time with Red Bull, winning multiple races. He even secured victories while competing alongside a skilled driver like Max Verstappen. However, in 2018, Ricciardo made a brave decision to leave Milton Keynes and join Renault (now Alpine). The move worked for a time, but the Australian faced a situation where he could not perform at his best. Helmut Marko had also mentioned that it was a major turning point in the Honey Badger’s career.
He was a very good race car driver, he won races. He was racing against Max [Verstappen] and then decided to move on from Red Bull, which in the end was a brave decision, and worked out for a while, and then he just got the stuck in some place and couldn’t do it anymore.
Gunther Steiner explained.
Certainly, Ricciardo being just 35 still has a chance to return to racing in any league. He previously stated he doesn’t want to switch teams again, as leaving Red Bull was a decision he now regrets. It is up to him to decide whether to continue racing or embrace a relaxed life, as Verstappen suggested him to chill at a farm for the coming months.