Ricciardo chokes back tears as F1 exit looms

Daniel Ricciardo was forced to fight back tears as he explained why it took him so long to exit the cockpit of his F1 car at the end of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Ricciardo had just executed a duty that could help Max Verstappen win his fourth consecutive F1 drivers' title by setting the fastest lap of the race on the final tour of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, depriving McLaren's Lando Norris of a potentially priceless point in his championship fight with the Red Bull driver.

After pulling into parc fermé, Ricciardo spent a considerable period of time sitting in his VCARB before finally stepping out.

The inference was alarmingly obvious, with Ricciardo fully aware he had almost certainly just completed his last grand prix as an announcement is due this week that Liam Lawson will replace the Australian at VCARB for the remainder of this season and into next year.

Explaining what was running through his mind as he sat in the car, Ricciardo's response was staccato as he attempted to compose himself.

"A lot of emotions because...look, I'm aware it could be it, and I'm also exhausted after the race, so there's so much...I don't know, just like a flood of many emotions, feelings and exhaustion," he said.

Trying to continue, he added: "The cockpit is something that...[starts to choke back tears], I got very used to for many years, and yeah...erm...I just wanted to savour the moment."

Ricciardo hoping for Christmas present from Verstappen

At least Ricciardo went out on a small high, savouring the feeling of the speed of F1 with his fastest lap, particularly as the previous 61 were a relative struggle after failing to make it out of Q1 on Saturday.

"A tough race," said Ricciardo. "Any time you are out in Q1 you know you have a potentially long day.

"I had to try something with strategy, and you never know here with a safety car, it could work in your favour. Obviously there wasn't a safety car, and then our strategy came a little undone.

"Ultimately we just weren't quite quick enough. I don't know the full picture of Yuki's race but I saw he finished out of the points, so perhaps we just didn't have the overall pace in the race stints."

Appreciating the possible significance of his closing efforts, he is hoping Verstappen will be kind to him late this year.

"In the end, we were not really in any position so we tried to go for the fastest lap," said Ricciardo. "I guess it may help Max out by Abu Dhabi, and maybe there's a Christmas present coming if he wins [the title] by a point."