David Coulthard believes Daniel Ricciardo executed a publicity “masterstroke” by choosing not to announce his departure from Formula One before the Singapore Grand Prix. Fans were left uncertain about whether the recent race would be the Australian driver’s final one, preventing them from giving him a proper farewell.
Ricciardo was later dropped by VCARB after the race, likely marking the end of his top-level motorsport career.
Damon Hill has criticized the situation, arguing that Ricciardo should have been allowed to inform his fans about his exit, as his supporters deserved to know. However, Coulthard revealed that Ricciardo did have the chance to make the announcement but opted not to, perhaps to generate more attention at upcoming events.
“I know there’s been a lot of negative reaction, people asking why he wasn’t given the opportunity,” Coulthard said on the *Formula For Success* podcast. “But from what I’ve heard, he was given the chance and chose not to. I’m trying to figure out if it was a personal decision to avoid distractions or a strategic move to increase media attention later on, especially with big events in Austin and Vegas where he’s popular in America.”
VCARB, Red Bull’s sister team, replaced Ricciardo with young New Zealander Liam Lawson for the final six races of the 2024 season.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko commented that Ricciardo had lost his “killer instinct,” saying, “The timing was influenced by various factors. He was informed, and his fastest lap was a worthy farewell performance, showing his potential. However, it wasn’t consistent or at the level required for a return to Red Bull Racing. His speed and late braking were there, but the killer instinct had faded.”
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