A clearly emotional Daniel Ricciardo sounded like a man who had just driven his last Formula 1 Grand Prix, but if so, he still couldn't resist flashing that big trademark smile, as he recognised he had bowed out in some style.
The popular Australian eight-race winner, who's expected to be replaced by Kiwi Liam Lawson before the next race at Austin, hardly denied the rumours after the weekend's Singapore race, talking like someone resigned to his days being over.
He sat in the cockpit of his car for a long time after finishing 18th, admitting later: "A lot of emotions... I am aware it could be it.
"Just exhausted after the race, so a flood of emotions and feelings and exhaustion. Just wanted to savour the moment."
There was pride too in Ricciardo's voice, as he still produced one last reminder of his old excellence with the fastest lap of the day, an effort sympathetically acknowledged by the F1 fans, who voted their old favourite as driver of the day.
It was also much appreciated by old Red Bull championship-chasing colleague Max Verstappen, who thanked him over his radio for nicking the fastest-lap point from McLaren title rival and race winner Lando Norris, which may yet prove crucial in the battle to be world champion.
"If Max wins by a point, then I just guaranteed myself a nice Christmas present," beamed Ricciardo.
To which, Verstappen responded cheerily: "He can ask for whatever he wants."
The Dutchman — Ricciardo's teammate at Red Bull from 2016-2018 — offered what sounded like a fond F1 farewell too, as he added: "He will be remembered as a great driver, as a great person and he has a great character. It's very rare someone hates him.
"In a few years' time, when I won't be here anymore, we will sit back and have a beer, and remember all those years together."
There was plenty of poignancy, as Ricciardo later shrugged: "If it is [my last race], I guess a nice way to say 'adios'.
"I am not too sure what the plan is, but I mean, look, I've obviously got a good idea."
His team hardly denied it either, as an RB spokesperson explained "if it was to be his last race, we wanted him to go out on a high".
Ricciardo has had his struggles after moving to McLaren, then being dropped, as they plumped for the rising talent of Oscar Piastri. This year, he's been outdriven by RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Lawson stepped into Ricciardo's car last year, after the Aussie broke a hand, and outperformed the incumbent, including a top-10 finish at Singapore 12 months ago. Since then, he has waited on the sidelines, patiently awaiting the fulltime opportunity that now seems imminent.
"I always said I didn't want to come back [after McLaren] just to be on the grid," recalled Ricciardo. "I wanted to fight at the front and get back with Red Bull.
"It didn't come to fruition. I also have to ask myself the question of what else could I achieve and what else is there to really go for?
"I put my best foot forward and maybe the fairytale ending didn't happen, but I also have to look back on what it's been, 13 or so years. I'm proud."
Additional reporting by 1News
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