Ricciardo Snubbed: Rosberg Calls Out RB F1

Rosberg blasts RB F1 for not giving Ricciardo the farewell he deserved as his F1 career pauses.

Nico Rosberg is frustrated with how RB F1 treated Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore, as it appears the Australian was competing in his final Formula 1 Grand Prix. The 2016 world champion is awaiting confirmation, but he dislikes the treatment Ricciardo received.

“He deserves a nice farewell if it’s his last weekend,” stated Rosberg, a consultant for Sky F1. “It’s a bit like we don’t know what’s happening. We don’t even know if it’s going to happen, so it’s not a pleasant situation. He deserves better than that.”

Rosberg chose to leave Formula 1 at the top after his championship, and he admits he wouldn’t have wanted to stay just to make up the numbers: “That would definitely have been part of my decision, yes, because I would really have wanted to avoid going down further in the hierarchy until one day I got fired.”

“Indeed, with age and the evolution of things, a day will come when the younger generation will knock on the door and you will be replaced. So that’s something I would have wanted to avoid. Of course, I still had time, probably because I was still young, but in any case, for me, it was important to have it in my own hands.”

“Look at Daniel, it’s not really a dignified end. Sebastian Vettel, in the same way that his career ended, I think that wasn’t a dignified end either. And that last moment is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

“It’s powerful and important for me to make the right decision and, looking back, I know it was hard at the time for a lot of people because everyone enjoyed the battle with Lewis [Hamilton], but also, I mean, for me and my family, it was the right decision.”

According to the German, it’s also poor management to preserve the brand image of the Faenza team and Red Bull: “It’s really a shame. Daniel is so loved. He’s a fantastic driver, but unfortunately, he didn’t show enough this year.”

“A World-Class Driver”

Sky F1’s other consultant, Martin Brundle, also believes RB F1’s decision was not clearly articulated, but he is pleased for Ricciardo that he was voted Driver of the Day by the public as a form of consolation.

“This was Daniel’s last F1 race for a while, and perhaps forever. It was a rather timid and confusing exit from the team’s perspective,” added Brundle. “The fans rewarded him by giving him the title of Driver of the Day as a farewell gift.”

“This leaves him with a record of 257 starts, eight wins, three poles, and 32 podiums. And lots of smiles and happy fans. Well done and good luck to him for the future; he’s a man of quality and a world-class driver.”

Liam Lawson is expected to replace him, and Brundle believes the young driver will have an excellent opportunity: “This is his chance to prove he should be on the 2025 grid in one of the two Red Bull teams. Christian Horner said ‘we want to see how good he is.'”

“I mean, he was very good last year when he was a super sub, and they need some options moving forward, as only Verstappen is really performing. They have their own junior team on the grid, they might as well use this Red Bull, solely for them, and only Verstappen is really performing.”