In response, Mekies conceded that the situation was not “ideal,” but noted that the outpouring of support for Ricciardo from around the sport is a testament to how much the driver meant to Formula 1.

RB team principal Laurent Mekies has conceded Daniel Ricciardo ’s exit from F1 was “not ideal”. Ricciardo bowed out of F1 following the Singapore Grand Prix. Rumours were rife heading into the weekend about Ricciardo’s future, but crucially, nothing had been announced by either VCARB or Red Bull.

RB boss Laurent Mekies has said that the team could have handled Daniel Ricciardo's exit from Formula 1 better.

Daniel Ricciardo and his RB Formula One team knew before last month's Singapore Grand Prix that he was leaving and having to pretend otherwise was "not ideal", principal Laurent Mekies said on Friday.