Breaking: Ricciardo handed another F1 SNUB despite gutsy…read more
Ricciardo handed another F1 SNUB despite gutsy team display
Daniel Ricciardo, the popular Australian Formula 1 driver, has once again been overlooked in a recent F1 review, despite his memorable performance at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Ricciardo, who had already faced challenges in securing consistent results at AlphaTauri (the junior team of Red Bull Racing), found his seat in jeopardy as the season neared its conclusion. With just six races left in the year, Ricciardo was replaced by Kiwi driver Liam Lawson after the Singapore race, marking the end of his tenure in the F1 grid for 2024.
Ricciardo had struggled to meet expectations during the season, particularly with AlphaTauri, and rumors swirled that his time in the sport could be nearing its end. At the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo’s performance encapsulated his difficult year. He qualified in 16th position, and despite a valiant effort, he finished the race in 18th place. This result seemed to all but confirm the whispers surrounding his departure from F1. However, Ricciardo did manage to deliver a standout moment on track. In the latter stages of the race, he posted a dramatic fastest lap, denying McLaren’s Lando Norris an important point in his battle for second place in the championship. The moment was significant, as each point was becoming increasingly valuable in the fight for the title. Moreover, Ricciardo’s achievement had added layers of drama, considering his relationship with Red Bull as a part of their development team, further stoking discussions among fans and pundits alike.
Despite this compelling performance in Singapore, Ricciardo was notably absent from the Formula 1’s list of top ten dramatic moments of the 2024 season, which was recently revealed. In a video shared on F1’s official YouTube channel, a collection of the season’s most dramatic moments was presented, but Ricciardo’s late-race fastest lap did not make the cut. Instead, the compilation highlighted other notable events, such as incidents involving on-track debris causing punctures in Qatar, the team orders drama at McLaren during the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the controversial collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix, which forced Norris to retire from the race.
Ironically, Ricciardo’s season had been filled with such dramatic moments, yet none of them were deemed worthy of a spot in the official top ten. In addition to his dramatic finish in Singapore, Ricciardo was involved in another eye-catching moment earlier in the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix. During this race, team orders within AlphaTauri led to a heated exchange between Ricciardo and his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda, eager to prove a point, nearly collided with Ricciardo after attempting a risky move down the inside. Tsunoda locked up his tires, narrowly avoiding a crash, and Ricciardo famously responded with a blunt and expletive-laden insult. The Bahrain incident, filled with tension and high drama, seemed to have all the ingredients for a dramatic highlight, yet it too was excluded from the top ten list.
Both the Bahrain and Singapore moments were undeniably theatrical and packed with intensity, which made them stand out as dramatic moments from the 2024 season. Many fans and pundits argue that at least one of these instances should have earned a place on the list, especially considering Ricciardo’s storied career and his undeniable contribution to the drama of the season. For a driver who has been a fan favorite and a staple of F1’s narrative for so long, it’s surprising that his efforts did not receive the recognition they deserved in this particular retrospective. As the F1 season continues to evolve, Ricciardo’s moments of drama may soon be forgotten by the governing body, but for his supporters, these moments will undoubtedly remain etched in their memories.
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