“A chance no one else would have given him” says Marko on Ricciardo’s departure from F1 – In Formula One career decisions often involve complexities that fans and even insiders don’t always fully understand. Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from the sport is one such example.
Rumours had been swirling for weeks, and as the Singapore Grand Prix came and went, the whispers of his departure became more persistent. However, official confirmation did not come until days after the race, leaving many to wonder why it took so long for Red Bull’s sister team, the Racing Bulls, to announce Ricciardo’s early departure. Now motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has shed some light on the reasons behind the delay.
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A delayed farewell: The Singapore Grand Prix
The Singapore Grand Prix on 22 September 2024 will be Daniel Ricciardo’s final race, bringing to an end a Formula One career that has been filled with ups and downs. The news of his retirement was well known before the iconic night race.
Fans, pundits and even his rivals had caught wind of Ricciardo’s impending exit, leading to a wave of speculation as to what had gone wrong. However, Racing Bulls, the team Ricciardo had spent his final months in the sport with, waited until four days after the weekend’s race to make an official statement.
The delay sparked criticism, with some suggesting Ricciardo hadn’t been given the send-off he deserved. Former world champion Damon Hill was one of the loudest voices, expressing his disappointment that the fans weren’t given a proper opportunity to say goodbye to the popular Australian driver.
“The fans were left in the dark and in a way so was Ricciardo,” commented Hill.
“It feels like a missed opportunity for everyone to give him the send-off he deserved after such a long career in the sport.”
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Marko’s statement: Commercial ties and timing
While the criticism has been widespread, Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s trusted motorsport advisor, has since offered an explanation for the timing of the announcement. According to Marko, the delay was not due to indecision or lack of transparency, but rather to ensure that certain “commercial agreements” were met.
“Daniel Ricciardo’s departure was announced after the Singapore race weekend for compelling reasons related to commercial agreements,” Marko explained in a column on *speedweek.com*.
He stressed that the delay wasn’t about keeping Ricciardo or his fans in the dark, as Ricciardo had been “informed in good time”. Marko suggested that the contractual obligations between the Racing Bulls and their sponsors required a careful and measured approach to the timing of the announcement.
Responding to criticism of the lack of a proper farewell, Marko pointed to Ricciardo’s performance in the Singapore race as a fitting way to say goodbye.
“I also think the fastest lap he drove was a worthy farewell performance,” said Marko, defending the way things had unfolded. According to him, the Australian’s efforts on track should be seen as the real farewell, rather than the timing of an official statement.
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The second chance no one else would have given him
Marko went on to reflect on Ricciardo’s time with Racing Bulls and the opportunities he was given within the Red Bull racing structure.
“He was given a second chance that no one else would have given him,” the 81-year-old consultant insisted, reminding the motorsport world that Ricciardo was given an opportunity that many drivers can only dream of.
When Ricciardo returned to the Red Bull driver pool via the Racing Bulls, it was seen as a potential stepping stone back to the main Red Bull Racing team. His task was clear: show the kind of performance that would warrant a promotion back to Red Bull Racing, where he had enjoyed success in the past alongside star driver Max Verstappen.
“This was done on the premise that a return to Red Bull Racing was possible if the performance was right,” Marko explained. The plan was simple – Ricciardo’s stint with the Racing Bulls was to be a stopover on his way back to the main team. If he could produce the kind of performances that had once made him one of the most exciting drivers on the grid, there would be a seat waiting for him alongside Verstappen.
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Flashes of brilliance, but not enough
Unfortunately for Ricciardo, the fairytale return never materialised. According to Marko, while there were moments when the Australian showed flashes of his old brilliance, they were too few and far between to justify a return to Red Bull Racing.
“The time with the Racing Bulls was always intended as a stepping stone to bring Ricciardo back to the main team,” Marko reiterated, but that promotion was contingent on consistent performance – a level that Ricciardo was unable to maintain.
There were, of course, highlights during his final stint in F1. A fourth-place finish in the 2024 Miami Sprint Race and a seventh-place finish in Mexico in 2023 proved Ricciardo was still capable of competing at a high level. However, as Marko pointed out, those performances were the exception rather than the rule.
“Other than that, the speed was not there, the consistency was not there,” Marko said bluntly.
“The whole performance that would have justified a promotion to Red Bull Racing was missing.” He insisted that the decision to move Ricciardo back to Racing Bulls was always about assessing whether the Australian still had the “killer instinct” that once made him one of the most feared drivers on the grid.
According to Marko, that instinct is gone. “The previous ‘killer instinct’ that always characterised Ricciardo in the past was no longer there,” he said, explaining that while Ricciardo’s raw talent and racing ability were never in question, his inability to consistently perform at the highest level ultimately led to the decision to part ways.
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The end of an era: What Ricciardo’s exit means for F1
Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from Formula One marks the end of an era. For more than a decade, he was one of the sport’s most charismatic figures, known not only for his daring overtakes and podium finishes, but also for his infectious personality. His smile and easy-going nature made him a fan favourite, and his fearless riding style earned him the respect of his peers.
But as Marko’s comments make clear, Formula One is a results-driven business. Ricciardo’s return to Red Bull was always conditional on him performing at the level required to compete with the likes of Max Verstappen. When he couldn’t, the decision to move on became inevitable.
As Ricciardo leaves the sport, he leaves behind a legacy of incredible moments and unforgettable races. His journey may not have ended the way many had hoped, but there’s no denying the impact he’s had on F1. From his early days with Toro Rosso to his time with Red Bull and later Renault and McLaren, Ricciardo’s presence on the grid will be sorely missed.
The lesson from his final chapter is one that all F1 drivers must heed: talent alone is never enough. Consistency, performance and the ability to adapt are crucial in a sport that demands perfection. And while Daniel Ricciardo may not have been able to deliver that consistency in the end, he will always be remembered as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
