Why Guenther Steiner wasn’t ‘happy’ after watching one of Daniel Ricciardo’s last interviews

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Daniel Ricciardo came into the Singapore Grand Prix aware that it may be his final race in Formula 1. He knew there was a strong chance of Liam Lawson replacing him from Austin onwards.

In all likelihood, that would mark the end of his time in the sport. Losing his seat for the second time in three seasons would cause irreparable damage to his standing.

Still, perhaps that was part of him that hoped a strong performance at Marina Bay could prompt a late rethink. At the very least, he could show Red Bull and RB what they would be missing.

Ricciardo hadn’t scored points since before the summer break, finishing either 12th or 13th in the previous three races. RB’s regression has been poorly timed.

The Australian has had the edge over Yuki Tsunoda in recent times – he now leads the race head-to-head 8-6 – but the car isn’t quick enough for him to close up the 10-point gap in the championship. The improvement he’s made in 2024 has therefore gone largely unnoticed.

RB scored 28 of their 34 points in the first nine rounds. And they surrendered more ground to Haas in Singapore as Nico Hulkenberg finished ninth, Tsunoda came home 12th and Ricciardo crossed the line 18th.

Guenther Steiner was saddened by one Daniel Ricciardo interview at Singapore Grand Prix

Ricciardo saw any realistic hope of scoring points dashed in qualifying. He suffered a Q1 exit for the sixth time this season, taking P16 on the grid.

Watching on from the garage, Liam Lawson knew Ricciardo would be knocked out. The car was quick enough for Q3, with Tsunoda qualifying eighth.

Speaking in the media pen afterwards, Ricciardo said he was bearing a ‘fake smile’. Former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner found it difficult to watch his interview.

Ricciardo is an eight-time Grand Prix winner who has racked up 32 podiums. He’s also an immensely popular figure in the paddock, but it was clear to Steiner that he’d reached a low point.

He told Champ1: “I saw the interview with him after qualifying on TV in Singapore and I wasn’t really happy anymore. We all have good times, we all have bad times, we’re all just human. You have to respect that he won races. I like him. Danny is a great guy. He’s done a lot.”

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Ricciardo has been urged to pursue television by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde. He thinks it’s time for the 35-year-old to quit racing and use his ‘personality’ elsewhere.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he’d fallen out of love with motorsport. Since his sensational decision to leave Red Bull in 2018, his career has unravelled.

For a time, it looked as if he could return to his former team. Sergio Perez was spiralling and Red Bull considered a change.

That never came to pass, and the team have continued to suffer in the constructors’ championship. In a radio message to Ricciardo, RB engineer Pierre Hamelin noted that Perez hadn’t managed to pass the Haas of Hulkenberg in Singapore after a prolonged fight.