Anthony Davidson shares peculiar final radio messages to Daniel Ricciardo during the Singapore Grand Prix

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Daniel Ricciardo left the Singapore Grand Prix with a huge question mark hanging over his Formula 1 future.

RB refused to be drawn on whether Daniel Ricciardo had just taken part in his last F1 race for the team this season, but everything points to an imminent swap ahead of the United States Grand Prix.

However, as soon as the race weekend in Singapore started, it became clear that Ricciardo was hanging onto his seat by a thread.

Martin Brundle suggested he knew that Ricciardo was losing his seat, although his Sky Sports colleague David Croft pondered a scenario that could see Ricciardo on the grid next year.

That seems fanciful and when Ricciardo was told by Helmut Marko he needed to have a strong race – much to the Australian’s frustration – the weekend didn’t go his way.

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A Q1 exit for Ricciardo at a circuit where overtaking is so difficult was a concern especially when Yuki Tsunoda reached the top-ten shootout.

Anthony Davidson was covering the race for Sky Sports F1 and recalled what he heard on Ricciardo’s team radio in the closing stages of his P18 finish.

The 35-year-old did at least come away with the fastest lap of the race after a late pit stop and the Driver of the Day award but that will be scant consolation for the experienced Australian if he has just bowed out of F1.

Anthony Davidson recalls peculiar Daniel Ricciardo radio messages at the Singapore Grand Prix

Asked about Ricciardo’s popularity after he won Driver of the Day in Singapore, Davidson said: “It does say something, it shows the fans’ emotion and at the end of the day it’s a huge factor as to why they tune in.

“It’s not just machinery getting driven around it’s the human element of what’s driving that machinery that really spurs people on and that’s the pure entertainment at home.

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“He has been pure entertainment Daniel Ricciardo, hasn’t he? I think the job he did today, stealing that fastest lap right at the end.

“It’s funny; I was listening to the radios right at the end, it all seemed quite clinical and straightforward by the team.

“There was no, ‘Really, are we doing this or not?’ or ‘Why are we going for the fastest lap, why are you pitting me now?’

“It was just, build up battery charge, box this lap, then put it into that mode and let’s go for it.”

When Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 fate could be announced after the Singapore Grand Prix

Ricciardo was the final driver to leave the paddock early on Monday morning after arguably the most hectic weekend of his F1 career.

RB guests gave Ricciardo a guard of honour on his return to the hospitality suite after he had completed his media duties.

Liam Lawson is the man widely expected to be partnering Yuki Tsunoda in Austin as he looks to build on his five-race cameo last season.

Ricciardo could learn his fate as early as Tuesday and it would be disappointing if many drivers didn’t get to pay proper tribute to his contribution to the sport while he was still in the paddock.

Whether RB and Red Bull made the right decision not to confirm their plans ahead of the race weekend is a talking point that’s likely to raise its head again in Austin.

However, Ted Kravitz has shared another scenario that could see Ricciardo race in Formula 1 one last time this year.