Requested why the workforce had pitted him for contemporary tyres on the finish of the race, a spokesperson for RB stated: “If it was to be his final race, we wished him to exit on a excessive.”
The RB spokesperson added that the workforce didn’t know whether or not a call had been made. Ricciardo’s future will likely be determined by Pink Bull administration, primarily workforce principal Christian Horner and motorsport adviser Helmut Marko.
Ricciardo stated: “I suppose it (might) assist Max out by Abu Dhabi so perhaps there’s a Christmas current coming if he wins by a degree.”
Verstappen stated: “He can ask for no matter he needs.”
The Dutchman, who was team-mate with Ricciardo at Pink Bull from 2016-2018, paid tribute to the 35-year-old.
“He’s an awesome man,” Verstappen stated. “We at all times had an awesome relationship. We had a sporty rivalry within the workforce.
“He will likely be remembered as an awesome driver, as an awesome particular person. He has an awesome character. it’s very uncommon somebody hates him. In a couple of years’ time once I gained’t be right here any extra, we’ll sit again and have a beer and bear in mind all these years collectively.”
Ricciardo left Pink Bull for Renault on the finish of 2018 and spent two seasons within the French workforce, through which he carried out competitively, earlier than transferring to McLaren in 2021.
As soon as there, he struggled to get on the tempo of team-mate Norris, and was dropped after the 2022 season, a yr earlier than the tip of his contract.
Ricciardo landed a task as Pink Bull reserve for 2023 and was introduced again to a race seat midway by way of final season as a alternative for Dutchman Nyck de Vries, whose performances for the junior workforce had not been sufficient to fulfill administration.
However two races into his return, Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash on the Dutch Grand Prix and was changed by Lawson for 5 occasions.
Pink Bull’s hope in bringing him again was that he may get better the shape he had proven with them final decade and change into a possible alternative for Sergio Perez as Verstappen’s team-mate.
However most of the time he has been outperformed by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
Ricciardo informed Sky Sports activities: “I’ve to acknowledge why I got here again after the McLaren stint and I at all times stated I did not wish to come again simply to be on the grid, I wished to struggle on the entrance and get again with Pink Bull.
“It did not come to fruition, I additionally must ask myself the query of what else might I obtain and what else is there to essentially go for.
“I put my greatest foot ahead and perhaps the fairytale ending did not occur, however I additionally must look again on what it has been, 13 or so years, I am proud.”
Ricciardo needed to choke again tears when requested why he had sat so lengthy within the cockpit of his automotive after the race.
He stated: “Numerous feelings. I’m conscious it could possibly be it. Simply exhausted after the race, so a flood of feelings and emotions and exhaustion, the cockpit is one thing, I received… very used to for a few years. Simply wished to savour the second.”
