Inside Daniel Ricciardo’s emotional Formula One farewell: RB star held a secret heart-to-heart with Lando Norris in scenes captured by Netflix

The details surrounding Daniel Ricciardo’s emotional lap of honour after the Singapore Grand Prix have been revealed by a photographer in the Formula 1 paddock.

Ricciardo, 35, reportedly had a 10-minute secret conversation with his former McLaren team-mate and championship contender Lando Norris, in scenes reportedly captured by cameras on Netflix’s Drive to Survive.

Emotions ran high in Marina Bay on Sunday amid widespread speculation that fan-favourite Ricciardo will lose his seat at RB for the next Grand Prix in the United States, with young Kiwi driver Liam Lawson expected to replace him.

However, Ricciardo started the race with a good feeling and set the fastest lap. This could be decisive for his good friend Max Verstappen’s hunt for a fourth world title.

Appearing before the cameras after the race, the Australian was overcome with emotion as he reflected on what was likely to be his final race in Formula 1.

And paddock photographer Kym Illman captured Ricciardo’s movements on a humid night in Singapore.

On his YouTube channel, Illman said via Planet F1: ‘On September 23 at 01:46, Daniel Ricciardo left the F1 paddock for the last time as an F1 driver.

‘The whole night was something bizarre and heartbreaking, saying goodbye to Formula 1 [sic] a driver whose departure has not yet been officially announced.

‘Speculation? No way. Daniel had no doubts about his future and neither did the rest of the paddock. There were plenty of tears.

‘[He was] voted Driver of the Day. Sentimental vote? People knew he was leaving the sport, they wanted to reward him for that.

‘After the race he sat in his car for a while, enjoying what he knew was his last race.

‘He probably stayed in one of the longest sessions I’ve ever had with a director in the media pen, talking to anyone who would talk to him and sometimes for 15 minutes.

‘He was cheerful and happy during most interviews, that’s his nature, but during some interviews he was almost moved to tears.

“He walked back into the reception area and there was an honor guard on both sides and they all clapped for him when he came in. He gave people fist bumps and high fives and then he sat behind closed doors for quite some time.”

Illman then revealed the confidential conversation between Ricciardo and Norris.

“Just after midnight Lando Norris came down to see Daniel,” he said. “They spoke behind closed doors in the VCARB garage.

‘Was there media in it? Yeah, Netflix.

Photographer claims Ricciardo had secret 10-minute meeting with Lando Norris

The pair were teammates at McLaren and remain good friends

‘If they weren’t there, they were very close and I imagine this will be a heartbreaking and moving episode next year.

‘About 10 minutes later Lando came out and left the paddock. At that point Daniel was the only driver, as far as I could see, still in the paddock. And this is getting quite late.

‘Yuck [Tsunoda] went into the garage, Laurent Mekies [VCARB team principal] went to the garage and they both came out.

‘And eventually Daniel and his manager Blake came out and went back to the guest room.

‘More hugs, more tears and then it was upstairs for a while – and a long time. At that moment I got the feeling that Daniel just didn’t want to leave.

‘Maybe he was delayed, I don’t know exactly, but it was bizarre to see what happened to such a nice guy.

‘When he finally got down, he quickly walked to the galley to thank the crew and walked over to where we were standing.’