Mekies admits Ricciardo's F1 exit could have been managed better
Austin, Texas — Laurent Mekies, Team Principal at RB, acknowledged that Daniel Ricciardo's departure from Formula 1 could have been handled more effectively, as the Australian driver is set to miss this weekend's U.S. Grand Prix following a highly emotional exit at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Ricciardo's exit became the talk of the paddock after emotional interviews in Singapore, although his departure had not been officially announced at that time. The speculation was later confirmed the following week, with Liam Lawson stepping in as his replacement.
Reflecting on the situation, Mekies admitted, "Yes, it was frustrating, and yes, it was not ideal to go through the weekend in that way. That is first of all for him, on a professional and on a personal matter, and for the whole team around him."
Despite the unfolding drama, Mekies emphasized that Ricciardo was not left in the dark. "Daniel was aware," Mekies stated. "We did have discussions before the weekend. For many different reasons, we chose together to go into that weekend without announcing. And from that point onwards, we had to deal with it."
He continued, "It's a decision that, in hindsight, we may or may not do differently. But it's something that we were, both the team and the drivers, on board to go through that now."
Mekies praised the overwhelming support Ricciardo received throughout the ordeal: "I think in one way or another, we all found a way to express how much love there is from the sport to Daniel, from the fans to Daniel."
Reflecting on the timing of the announcement, Mekies added, "I don't know if it would have been better or worse [to announce in Singapore], certainly different, more traditional, but I can hopefully say that the amount of love and empathy we felt through that weekend was something outstanding and something that shows that he's bigger than an F1 driver, he's bigger than F1."
As the drama unfolds, the motorsport community continues to rally around Ricciardo, showcasing the deep bond between the driver and his fans across the globe.
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