dpa
Singapore
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton hopes for the sake of Formula One and the fans that Max Verstappen is made to wait to secure a second straight title.
The Dutch Red Bull driver could wrap up the drivers’ championship with five races left if he wins on the floodlit street circuit on Sunday and other results go his way.
“It’s never great when the season finishes early,” Mercedes driver Hamilton told a news conference on Thursday. “For you as the one individual, it’s great. But for the actual sport, it’s not spectacular.” Last season in contrast was hugely dramatic with Verstappen pipping Hamilton to the title on the very last lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi.
“Definitely, I feel for the fans,” Hamilton said in reference to an early Verstappen triumph this time.
“For everyone and even for us last year, going right down to the wire, that was intense for everybody.”
Ricciardo views 2023
reserve role as ‘realistic’
Daniel Ricciardo has described the prospect of taking a Formula One reserve role in 2023 as “realistic” ahead of his McLaren exit.
Ricciardo has been linked with vacant seats at several teams since McLaren announced an early termination of his contract in August, with spots at Alpine, Williams and Haas up for grabs.
The Australian has struggled for consistency this year, and sits 14th in the drivers’ championship standings after finishing just four of his 16 races in the top 10.
Ricciardo has also been linked with reserve roles at F1 heavyweights Red Bull and Mercedes, and recently said his desire to “get back to winning” will be a key consideration when he makes a decision on his future.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo said his preference remained a permanent spot on the grid, but refused to rule out taking a back-up role.
“Let’s say my head space is in the same space,” he said on Thursday.
“I’m still keen to be part of F1 and of course, plan A would be to be on the grid.
“So nothing’s changed but I don’t want to just jump at the first kind of seat available.
“I know the landscape probably changes as well at the end of next year, with contracts and whatever, so I don’t want to say I’m remaining patient, but remaining open.”
Asked about the prospect of taking a reserve role, Ricciardo added: “It’s certainly something that’s realistic, yeah.
“That’s the two realistic options. It’s not to be anywhere else. I love other disciplines of motorsport but I don’t see myself there. “I feel as well if I jump into something like that, it closes the door on F1. It kind of feels like I’ve checked out, and I haven’t. So I’m solely focused on F1.
“I’m trying to see beyond next year. Of course, I want to be racing but I also don’t want to just look at the next 12 months and not look at the next 24.
“I guess I don’t want to just race to race, I want to race with a true belief or understanding that I could be back on the podium, ultimately.”
