RB boss Laurent Mekies has admitted that the team does harbour regrets over how Daniel Ricciardo’s premature Formula 1 departure was handled earlier this month.
Ricciardo’s career ended on a whimpering note at the last race in Singapore, with the Australian cutting a melancholic figure as he knew his time in F1 was numbered.
RB gave no confirmation that Singapore was his last race, as both team and driver offered cryptic answers when the media questioned the topic through the weekend.
The news that Liam Lawson would indeed replace Ricciardo came in the days following the race, denying the eight-time race winner the chance for a proper goodbye.
Fellow drivers took issue with how RB managed the sensitive issue, with ex-team-mate Max Verstappen stating Daniel Ricciardo deserved a “nicer” exit from the sport.
Mekies has since expressed frustration at how the situation unfolded, divulging he had worries about the media strategy imposed on the Australian back in Singapore.
“I think the answer is yes, it was frustrating, and yes, you’re right, it was not ideal to go through the weekend in that way,” Mekies told media including Motorsport Week.
“First of all for him, on a professional and personal manner, and for the whole team around him.
“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, 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 were on board to go through that.”
Mekies tributes driver ‘bigger than F1’
The outpouring of love from F1’s fandom was not lost on Mekies, who questioned whether a change in approach would have made the experience worse for Ricciardo.
He also paid tribute to a driver he called “bigger than F1”, admitting the Australian’s loyal support in the face of adversity highlights his enduring popularity in the sport.
“Now, I think in a 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, so I don’t know if it would have been better or worse.
“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 F1 drivers, he’s bigger than F1.”
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