#thank you Daniel

[thebirdsareafterme]

“Was it enough?”

A crackle of radio after the fastest lap in Singapore hangs in the air like a death pronouncement. One final moment in the cockpit, and it’s done. 13 years given, everything left out on the track.

“Was it enough?”

One single lap to end it all. The fastest, for one final dance.

One point taken away, from the team that took everything from him.

It’s quiet. The man who is larger than life, the brilliance of Formula One, the last of the late breakers sits in the cockpit and savours the moment for the last time.

A career that has been filled with laughter, champagne and the roar of engines ends quietly under the Marina Bay lights. Not a sound from the team that claimed to be family, not a word from the man who told him to come home only to toss him out two years later. Red Bull’s prodigal son returned home, and realized that home had changed.

Is it fair? The man who gives everything, broken bones and skin stretched over teeth too widely, has been thrown out for someone shiny and young. Not once, but twice. Kept smiling through it all, and maybe hoped that one day, it will hurt a little less.

A kid from Perth burst into the paddock with all his crooked teeth and curly hair, and instantly charmed the world with his smile. The cutthroat world of Formula One is not prepared for someone to be so kind, so genuine, so positive. He smiles, and the whole world is entranced. The personality that changes everything and the inherent goodness that runs so deep is captivating, and everyone wants more. “I’m Daniel Ricciardo, and I’m a car mechanic.” The world of motorsports stops and stares.

257 races. 8 wins. 32 podiums. It’s a career than most would dream of. Many have come, many have gone. None have changed the trajectory of this old money, uptight sport like he has. An infectious laugh that rang through the paddock week after week chipped away at the rigidity of sports media. Many racers are extraordinary, but not like this. To be known is to be loved, and there is none more beloved than Daniel Ricciardo.

“Was it enough?”

The silence rings out under the track floodlights.

Yes, the world answers. It was enough. It was everything.

Thank you, Daniel.

[isawthesainz]

lucyclaireillustration Because… 🤍🫶🏼

Daniel we love you xx

[hyacinthsdiamonds]

It's very possibly (likely) Daniel's last F1 race. If he wants to go out by getting fastest lap and also helping his long time friend in the WDC then that's his prerogative. Bad luck for the upset people that's the choice he made, but too bad.

This exactly. If this is his goodbye, which it very likely is, him getting the fastest lap was a banger. Schumacher ended his final race waving Sebastian through to overtake him. Seb didn't need to; he already had the points to win the championship, but Michael wanted him to. Narratively? Daniel taking the fastest lap point for Max, his longtime friend, former teammate, and arguably the person who has had the most influence on him during his time in this sport, is a hell of a way to go.

[adimouze]

daniel loved the sport and would have stayed if red bull hadn’t done what they did. daniel’s going to be okay and obviously in a state where he can superficially, at least, joke about being done. both these things can be true.

im going to miss you honeybadger. i guess it will always hurt.

[me-and-yourmama-accoustic]

Max and Daniel are more Romeo and Juliet than Romeo and Juliet ever were

[demisexual-eddie-diaz]

still thinking about the “thank you, Daniel” because I went “aww, Maxie, oh my god” and my mom was confused but like, god, it meant so much

[simplyisa]

ok but singapore being daniel’s unofficial “goodbye” reminds me a lot of some lyrics from “what would i do?” from falsettos the musical

(within the context of maxiel)

“what would i do if i had not met you? / who would i blame my life on?”

“once i was told that all men get what they deserve / who the hell then threw this curve?”

“how am i to face tomorrow? / after being screwed out of today / tell me what’s in store”

“once i was told that good men get better with age / we’re just gonna skip that stage”

“Thank you, Daniel.”

[theidlespoon]

when your card declines at therapy so they start playing daniel ricciardo's interviews from the 2024 singapore grand prix

[f1tfballetc]

It was a pleasure seeing you race, and your memories in Formula 1 will live on. True F1 fans are not sure on what will the sport look like without you.

Thank you, Daniel Ricciardo! 😢❤️

[thebirdsareafterme]

When I show up to the loving Daniel Ricciardo contest but verstappen.com admin (Max) is already there.

[isawthesainz]

f1 Smiling through the seasons 😄📅

Part 2

[hyacinthsdiamonds]

"You're old pal Daniel took the fastest lap"

[thenotoriouserg]

I am actually so genuinely anxious right now, but weirdly hopeful??

As heart wrenching as that interview was, we also have to appreciate the physical toll that Singapore takes on the drivers and tbh, I’d be a fucking mess if I was that hot, sweaty, dehydrated and had had a pack of media mongrels consistently talking insanely horrible shit about me for weeks (months? All season), too.

[sainz100]

2024 Singapore GP | x

[kenttyy]

Thank you Daniel 🤍

Thank you for the butterflies🦋🤍

[kievlyane]

daniel almost crying, i am going to kms

i hope that somehow we would still have him in this season! no way that we gone from almost confirmed ricbull for netherlands to this. but its red bull so

but it would be decent ending race!!! driver of the day + stealing fastest lap from norris

hope for better babes!!