RB deliver Ricciardo update after controversial F1 departure

RB CEO Peter Bayer has delivered an update on the recent axing of Daniel Ricciardo, and the manner of which it happened after the Singapore Grand Prix. 

Following the race at the Marina Bay Circuit, it was revealed by Red Bull that Ricciardo would be replaced for the remaining races this season by Liam Lawson. 

It was reported that the eight-time F1 race winner was informed that the Singapore GP would be his last during the event itself, something Bayer has denied. 

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed during the recent three-week break that Ricciardo was informed of the company's decision to replace him with Lawson before the Singapore GP. 

Bayer has also confirmed that the Faenza-based outfit communicated the decision clearly with Ricciardo.

Ricciardo was not given a big farewell by F1, with the driver and the team having not confirmed at the time that it would be the end despite it being clear, something RB has faced criticism for.

"From my point of view, maybe I look at it more from the commercial, communication and marketing side," Bayer told Sky DE. 

"Then maybe you could have organised it differently. I also think the farewell would have been different if he had raced until the end of the season, for example. 

"But for us as a team, it's important to realise that we communicated very transparently and very, very openly and honestly with Daniel. We spoke to him again the Wednesday before the race [in Singapore] and he said, 'No, we'll keep the ball rolling'. 

"Then we spoke to him again Saturday to Sunday night at 02:00 in Singapore and then he said, 'No, I just want to drive the race. Those who are important to me know that'. And for the others you could have set off big fireworks, but that was not what we wanted."

Recent Ricciardo communication

RB remain in contact with Ricciardo and spoke to the 35-year-old ahead of the United States Grand Prix, who is still in good spirits. 

"For us it was mainly the desire of the driver that was the deciding factor," added Bayer. "As I said, it could have been different, but I think it was good for him. 

"And we talked to him on the phone the day before yesterday. He's happy, he's doing well. He's at peace with it. He's happy with the way things have gone."

RB team principal Laurent Mekies also confirmed that Ricciardo and the team were aware ahead of the SIngapore GP that it would be the driver's last round with the outfit, but that it was "frustrating" that everybody had to pretend that nothing was set to change.

"I think the answer is yes, it was frustrating, and yes, you're right, it was not ideal to go through the weekend in that way, first of all for him, on a professional and on a personal matter, and for the whole team around him," said Mekies. 

"Yes, Daniel was aware. We did have discussions before the weekend. For many different reasons, we chose together to go into that weekend without announcing. 

"And from that point onwards, we had to deal with it. It's a decision that, in hindsight, we may or may not do differently. But it's something that we were, both the team and the drivers, were on board to go through that now."

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