Daniel Ricciardo had a “behind closed doors” meeting with Lando Norris after the Singapore Grand Prix as the Red Bull VCARB driver prepared to leave the F1 paddock for the last time.
That is the claim of F1 photographer Kym Illman, who says the former McLaren team-mates spent around 10 minutes together in a moment likely captured by the cameras of Netflix’s Drive to Survive show.
Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo met ‘behind close doors’ after Singapore GP
The Singapore Grand Prix is likely to prove the final race of Ricciardo‘s F1 career, with mounting rumours indicating that he will be replaced at VCARB by Red bull reserve driver Liam Lawson ahead of the next race in the United States.
Ricciardo cut an emotional figure at the end of the race in Singapore, with the 35-year-old treated to a guard of honour as he returned to the VCARB hospitality area.
That came after Ricciardo pitted for fresh tyres in the closing laps to set the fastest lap of the race, taking the bonus point away from race winner Norris, who trails Red Bull driver and World Championship leader Max Verstappen by 52 points with six races of the F1 2024 season remaining.
When informed over team radio after the chequered flag that Ricciardo had taken the fastest lap point away from Norris, Verstappen was heard responding: “Thank you, Daniel.”
Andrea Stella, the McLaren team principal, was frustrated by Ricciardo’s fastest lap given VCARB’s shared ownership with Red Bull, stressing that F1 teams should “behave in a totally autonomous manner” and airing fears of a “coalition championship.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner denied there was any influence from his outfit, claiming “Daniel obviously wanted to finish the race on a high.”
Ricciardo’s future has yet to be officially addressed, with Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko confirming last week that VCARB’s F1 2025 driver lineup is set to be finalised ahead of next month’s US GP in Austin, Texas.
Marko has previously commented that Lawson “will definitely be in one of our cars next year” with Red Bull’s shareholders keen for VCARB to return to its Toro Rosso roots as a team to train young drivers.
.webp)
