What Lando Norris was seen doing in the F1 pit lane amid Daniel Ricciardo exit rumours

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Lando Norris spent two years alongside Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren in 2021 and 2022. Ricciardo arrived as one of the highest-rated drivers on the grid, and left without a seat at all.

Norris had spent two years alongside Carlos Sainz and while he lost out in the championship on both occasions, the gap was just eight points in 2020. Many expected a similarly close tussle with Ricciardo.

But the Briton dismantled the multiple Grand Prix winner. Ricciardo may have scored the only victory of their partnership at Monza, where he led a one-two, but he was outscored by 282 points to 151 overall.

At the end of a 2022 campaign where Ricciardo lost the race head-to-head 16-5 and the qualifying battle 20-2, the team opted to change their line-up. They paid off their blockbuster signing with 12 months of his deal remaining, and brought in compatriot Oscar Piastri.

After acclimatising in his rookie year, Piastri has proved to be a far closer match for Norris. 42 points separate them with six races and three Sprints remaining in 2024.

Ricciardo and Norris have maintained a close friendship, perhaps because they were rarely direct competitors on track. And there was further evidence of this at what was likely the former’s final F1 race in Singapore.

Lando Norris said goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo after Singapore Grand Prix

Neither RB nor the bosses at Red Bull had confirmed whether the Singapore GP marked Ricciardo’s farewell. But the almost universal expectation was that Liam Lawson would replace him at the US GP.

According to Motorsport.com’s Jonathan Noble, his peers knew it was the ‘right moment’ to say goodbye following the race at Marina Bay. Norris was among those who took the opportunity.

The 24-year-old was seen visiting the RB garage after winning the race. Lewis Hamilton led the tributes to Ricciardo on social media when the news became official, calling him a legend.

Noble wrote: “Those who wanted to say goodbye to Ricciardo knew that Sunday night was the right moment, as even Lando Norris was seen popping into the RB garage late at night to say farewell to his former team-mate.”

The ‘very clear’ job offer Christian Horner has made to Daniel Ricciardo

Many suspected Ricciardo was approaching the end at RB long before Singapore. Red Bull were giving serious consideration to a driver change back in the spring.

Indeed, Ricciardo nearly lost his seat after a ‘disastrous’ Miami GP, according to Christian Horner. He finished an outstanding P4 in the Sprint, but slumped to 15th in the main race.

It’s unclear what comes next for the 35-year-old. He’s expressed interest in NASCAR but he could also step away from motorsport for good.

Red Bull want him to stay in their F1 family. Horner has offered Ricciardo an ambassador role which would allow the team to make the most of his commercial value.