Final yr's Singapore Grand Prix proved to be Daniel Ricciardo's final race in Components 1, because the Australian was changed on the RB group by Liam Lawson for the ultimate six races of the yr.
In 2023, Lawson had been put in as an alternative choice to Ricciardo following the latter's hand fracture on the Dutch Grand Prix, after simply two rounds into Ricciardo's comeback to F1 as a successor to Nyck de Vries.
Ricciardo was at the very least given the prospect to say goodbye to F1 with the quickest lap of final yr's Marina Bay race, though it was a mere crumb of consolation when measured towards the difficulties he'd confronted on his return to F1.
Though the transfer was unconfirmed throughout final yr's Singapore weekend, there have been rumours all through that it will be Ricciardo's last race – and the emotional nature of the race's epilogue lent credence to them. Certainly, Lawson was drafted into the line-up for Austin at Ricciardo's expense, providing the Kiwi the platform to step into the Crimson Bull group for the beginning of 2025.
Now again with the Racing Bulls group, Lawson opened up on his reflections of that weekend in Singapore. He famous that it had been an ‘uncomfortable' scenario, however was effusive in his reward for Ricciardo's help – each in that second, and forward of Lawson's 2023 debut.
“For us it was clearly extraordinarily uncomfortable,” Lawson mirrored. “I feel the one factor I took away from it was how a lot of an excellent particular person Daniel is and the way he was to me by means of the entire journey from after I first got here into this when he had his harm to going again to order.
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Crew VCARB 01
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“We had an excellent relationship. We nonetheless do truthfully and he is anyone that is I feel my solely take-away from that weekend final yr was simply how a lot respect I've for him.
“He despatched me a pleasant message after Baku and he is clearly off on his personal journey in the meanwhile. He is simply anyone who's been very supportive clearly.
“We're from the identical a part of the world as effectively so it is one thing that we in all probability each perceive. It is fairly tough to get up to now and we're each very fortunate.”
Talking about Ricciardo's resolution to forego racing to pursue different pursuits, Lawson was eager to level out that the 2 have been at “very completely different factors of our careers”, and that his former stablemate's selection was “private”.
He then elaborated on his personal makes an attempt to remain in F1, as he faces rumours that Arvid Lindblad could kind one half of Racing Bulls' line-up in 2026. He stated that, though he'd loved his run to fifth in Baku, he had in a short time moved his attentions to Singapore in his efforts to stick with the group for subsequent yr.
“I feel you benefit from the success, you benefit from the good moments, however it's loopy how shortly that mindset adjustments and flicks onto the subsequent one.
A fan holds up an indication of Daniel Ricciardo
Photograph by: Clive Rose / Components 1 by way of Getty Photographs
“Baku was a terrific outcome and I used to be tremendous stoked for the group, and I used to be stoked with how the race was. It felt like a terrific efficiency for me, however eery shortly inside a number of hours you are already centered on the subsequent one developing.
“I feel naturally in my place as effectively, after I'm attempting to safe a seat subsequent yr, it is in all probability extra pure to be considering forward extra and attempting to maintain these outcomes coming.”
Further reporting by Ronald Vording and Filip Cleeren
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