When Daniel Ricciardo left the paddock following the Singapore Grand Prix, it was tinged with finality—as if it were his last race as a driver. Just days later, it was officially confirmed that Ricciardo would part ways with the Red Bull family, a surprising twist with six Grands Prix still remaining in the season.

But how did it come to this? The Australian driver had been given a lifeline back into Formula 1 with AlphaTauri, under the belief that he might eventually return to the championship-winning Red Bull team, especially after Sergio Perez's inconsistent performance earlier this year. However, a shocking turn of events unfolded in less than two months.

Inside Red Bull, management had been assessing the potential of their driver roster and decided to replace Ricciardo with reserve driver Liam Lawson for the rest of the season. This transition aims to evaluate Lawson's performance as he vies for a full-time seat next year, alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Helmut Marko, Red Bull's Motorsport Adviser, has been adamant about revamping the team to focus on nurturing talent from their junior program, suggesting it was time for Lawson to showcase his skills on the main stage.

Team Principal Christian Horner has been Ricciardo's staunch advocate, initially supporting his second chance in F1 and fighting for him to maintain his position despite underwhelming results. However, the overall performance, while showing signs of improvement, was deemed insufficient by the higher-ups, leading to the decision to make the change.

As the race in Singapore unfolded, Ricciardo may have sensed his fate. He was visibly emotional during media interviews and took time to bid farewell to colleagues, solidifying the feeling that it was, indeed, goodbye. Sources indicated that by mid-September, the signs had already pointed towards his departure—making it clear that his time with Red Bull was nearing its conclusion.

Ricciardo achieved most of his success in F1 while driving for Red Bull, with seven of his eight career wins coming under their banner. This connection has fostered gratitude, despite the twist of fate. There were discussions about him remaining within the Red Bull system as a reserve driver, but the likelihood of regaining a race seat dwindled, prompting Ricciardo to contemplate his future more seriously.

Now, Red Bull has shifted its focus entirely to Lawson, who will have the challenge of performing at the upcoming United States Grand Prix with limited practice time due to the Sprint format. The team demonstrated confidence in Lawson’s abilities, given his impressive performance stepping in for Ricciardo last season during recovery from a broken hand.

For Ricciardo, the question marks remain about what lies ahead. The 35-year-old is back in Australia, weighing his options for the future in or out of motorsport. With his extensive history and talent, the question lingers: will we see him on track again?

Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds. The racing world is watching to see where Ricciardo's next chapter will take him!