Daniel Ricciardo sends emotional message to F1 fans over Singapore Driver of the Day vote

Voted Driver of the Day at the Singapore Grand Prix, at the end of what may be his final ever Formula 1 race, Daniel Ricciardo had an emotional message for his adoring fans

Daniel Ricciardo sent an emotional message to fans after he was voted driver of the day on what may be his final ever Formula 1 appearance.

Ricciardo finished 18th and last of the cars still running at the end of the Singapore Grand Prix. But he had been called into the pits for a third time to put on soft tyres and record the fastest lap of the race.

And that was not his only achievement as fans also voted the affable Australian as Driver of the Day. Clearly, fans were keen to show their affections for Ricciardo on what may prove to be his final F1 outing.

Red Bull will this week discuss whether or not to replace the 35-year-old at sister team VCARB. By the time we get to the next race in Austin next month, reserve driver Liam Lawson may well be the one on that race seat.

Such a decision would most likely spell the end of Ricciardo's long F1 career. And, speaking to Sky Sports after the Singapore race, he was keen to thank those fans who had shown him how much he means to them.

Ricciardo said: "Typically, the driver of the day thing is not something us drivers look too much into, but today I can say it's something I'm appreciative of. So that one today means a little something."

He also said he was "proud" of what he has achieved in the sport and, if this is to be the end, insists he has no regrets over how his career turned out. Ricciardo added: "I have to acknowledge why I came back after the McLaren thing. I always said I don't want to come back just to be on the grid, I want to try to fight back at the front and get with Red Bull.

"It didn't come into fruition, so I also have to ask myself the question, 'What can I achieve? What else is there to really go for?' I put my best foot forward and maybe the fairytale ending didn't happen, but I also have to look back on what it's been, 13 or so years. I'm proud."

His fastest lap efforts may have done his old team-mate Max Verstappen a huge favour. By going quickest on the final lap of the race, he took an extra point away from Lando Norris which may prove crucial by the end of the season with the McLaren driver closing the gap to the Dutchman all the time in the hunt for the drivers' title.

And, in typical style, he cracked a joke as he reflected on the impact his potential final act in F1 may have had. Ricciardo smiled: "The last few laps, Pierre [Hamelin, his race engineer] asked if we should go for fastest lap. And I thought, 'Why not?" If Max wins by a point, I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present."

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Watch F1 live

Watch Formula One on Sky Sports
£22 a month

Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won't miss a lap on Sky Sports.

Sky
Watch it here