Sport has always needed characters. George Best, Ian Botham, and Jimmy White all inspired the public despite having variable levels of success in their chosen sporting arenas.

As Drive to Survive has demonstrated, Formula 1 needs characters even more than other sports. The humanisation of drivers and dramatisation of races have seen viewing figures increase enormously in the last six years in both established and emerging markets. 

Daniel Ricciardo, in many ways the star of Netflix’s aforementioned programme, leaves F1 with a large following of people invested in him, the person. Indeed, if Instagram followers equated to points, Ricciardo would sit fifth in the world championship.

When Ricciardo won for McLaren at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, he announced over the radio “for anyone that thought I left, I never left”. His words were indicative of a period in which he hadn’t enjoyed much success. He hadn’t won a race since the 2018 season, his last at Red Bull. After his departure from Red Bull, Ricciardo joined Renault on a lucrative contract. Then two years later, after ninth and fifth place finishes in the championship, he joined McLaren in a quest to return to the top of the standings. That never materialised. Despite that flash in the pan at Monza, his form remained patchy. So patchy in fact, that he was dropped altogether by McLaren for compatriot Oscar Piastri. So how did it all go wrong?

There is a theory in Formula 1 that certain cars suit certain drivers. That can be conscious. Red Bull, for example, will tailor their developments to suit Max Verstappen’s driving style. Perhaps they even did this in 2018 which led to Ricciardo’s departure in the first place. It seems unlikely though, that Renault wouldn’t have backed Ricciardo in those first two years and built the car to suit. At McLaren, it might have been possible that Norris was preferred at the end, but Ricciardo would undoubtedly have been treated equally in the first instance. Papaya rules.

For me, it’s confidence. Is it possible that a man brimming with Western Australian confidence could lose his mojo? It’s hard to make that judgement based upon his off-track persona. In interview he remains upbeat and personable. In Drive to Survive, he argues against that very premise. But everyone’s confidence is finite, right? Ricciardo’s failure to secure a seat in 2023 must have come as a blow, and consistent defeats to an unfancied teammate can’t have done wonders for his confidence either.

From Red Bull’s point of view, the change of driver makes sense. Ricciardo has been consistently outperformed by teammate Yuki Tsunoda – himself not really rated by the Red bull hierarchy – and the newly instated Liam Lawson is highly regarded. 

It is such a shame, though, that the Singapore send-off was shrouded in uncertainty. One of the sport’s great characters, a multiple winner, deserved to be given a definitive moment. He deserved to be given a memory to look back on, just as he has given us so many.

Ricciardo will of be remembered for that emotional win at Monza, and that captivating celebration in Monte Carlo. But even moreso for his contagious smile, his sense of humour, and of course, his character. Thanks, mate.

 

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By Leon Parrott