F1 2024 Singapore Grand Prix LIVE: Race schedule and start time as Lando Norris starts on pole

“It's a storm in a teacup, all bad-tempered. I don't really want to waste my time on it.

“All drivers should come together. They represent themselves, their families, countries, teams. They know full well that many young people follow Formula 1. They have the responsibility to exercise control.”

“There is no need for gratuitous swearing. I would never sit in a press conference and swear.”

In a calendar that now includes 24 races, the Singapore Grand Prix – Formula 1's first night race, which was first added to the calendar in 2008 – remains the ultimate outlier in terms of conditions. And the ultimate challenge.

With humidity of almost 90% and track temperatures around 40 °C (although it can feel even hotter in the cockpit), drivers lose 2-3 kg through sweat alone.

For larger riders, this can be up to 4 kg, which corresponds to 3-4% of their body weight.

When Daniel Ricciardo was given a second chance in Formula 1 last summer, he had higher ambitions than a measly seat at Red Bull’s sister team. As he said The IndependentThe spirited Australian has made no secret of his desire to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull, with 2025 being a realistic target. But what counts in this sport – apart from a cheerful expression and a personality – are two things: the stopwatch and the rankings.

Ricciardo, as hard as he has tried, has failed to deliver on both counts. A crying shame for his fans and the fans of the sport. Ahead of the 18th round of the 2024 season, which takes place in Singapore this weekend, the 35-year-old is 14th in the championship standings, but more importantly, he is 10 points behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

And so we now come to the present, where Ricciardo’s F1 future is once again on the brink of collapse.

1. Max Verstappen – 313 points

2. Lando Norris – 254 points (-59)

3. Charles Leclerc – 235 points

4. Oscar Piastri – 222 points

5. Carlos Sainz – 184 points

6. Lewis Hamilton – 166 points

7. Sergio Perez – 143 points

8. George Russell – 128 points

9. Fernando Alonso – 58 points

10. Lance Stroll – 24 points

11. Nico Hülkenberg – 22 points

12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points

13. Alex Albon – 12 points

14. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points

15. Pierre Gasly – 8 points

16. Oliver Bearman – 7 points

16. Kevin Magnussen – 6 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 5 points

19. Franco Colapinto – 4 points

20. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

22. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

“Oh man, qualifying has been a disaster for me all year. I worked and worked and suddenly it came alive in qualifying for the first time. I think there was a little bit more in the car, but I'm grateful for it.

“We are in a good position to fight tomorrow.”

There is widespread speculation that a decision on RB's driver for 2025 is expected in the next few weeks due to a clause in Liam Lawson's contract, and Ricciardo did not dismiss the rumours.

“I know what it is like and how it works, and I knew there would always be some dates and deadlines this year, be it the summer break or now after Singapore, so after Singapore is the next one,” he said Sky Sports F1.

“To be honest, there is still so much that is uncertain. Let's see how the weekend goes. Of course, I will give everything I can, just like I have done so far. There is always something worth fighting for. We will see what happens. Trying to get this thing on the podium, that is my plan.”

“It's pretty cool that I'm here and there are world championships, I mean, there are 150 wins or something in total,” he said after securing pole position in Singapore.

“So, yes, I have nothing against them and nothing comparable to them.

“So, I think it's cool that I'm here and I'm among them and yeah, trying to fight them. I think that's pretty awesome in my respect.”