Visa Cash App RB team boss Laurent Mekies has spoken about Daniel Ricciardo’s departure after backlash back fans and Max Verstappen.
On the back of the Singapore Grand Prix, eight-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Ricciardo was replaced by Liam Lawson after a string of disappointing performances.
VCARB have since been heavily slammed over their treatment of the Australian and his former teammate Verstappen was also critical of the team’s handling of the situation.
He said: “I think it was quite clear for me, for Daniel, that that was the last race. From my side, I think it could have been handled a bit differently.
“Also for him, because he knew it, but he can’t say it exactly – it’s a bit of a shame.”
Verstappen added: “He’s done a lot for everyone. He’s won races. He has had incredible races. I think it deserved a nicer exit.”
Now, VCARB team boss Mekies has spoken about the situation at the United States Grand Prix.
He said, via Planet F1: “It was frustrating [keeping it a secret]. And yes, you’re right, it was not ideal to go through the weekend in that way, first of all for him, on a professional and on a personal matter, and for the whole team around him.
“Yes, Daniel was aware. We did have discussions before the weekend. 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 now.”
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Mekies continued: “I think in one 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 an F1 driver, he’s bigger than F1.”