In the fan area on the Circuit of the Americas, next to a jar of earplugs and a couple of feet from an industrial-sized jug of free sunscreen, sat a three-inch-thick book with heavy, blank, white pages. Fans walked from the midday heat to the tent where the book sat, writing notes in Sharpie to Daniel Ricciardo, a person whose absence hung over the race weekend like a lost loved one.
“You were my first favorite F1 driver,” reads one in every of the notes within the book. “RIR (Rest in Retirement)” – one other one. “Come to COTA to see you and you weren't here… it's so sad.”
It wasn't hard to see all of the signs that Ricciardo was as a consequence of appear on the United States Grand Prix. Literally, Ricciardo's illustrated face in a Stetson stood front and center in a fabric-printed mural of F1 drivers (all in cowboy outfits) covering the fence at Turn 15. On Saturday in downtown Austin, Ricciardo's clothing brand Enchanté launched a pop-to-store pop with recent capsule collection, clearly leaving out the person himself. Ricciardo met a couple of lucky fans who lined up for the opening early, but otherwise the shop remained unchanged over the weekend. And he was the one on the COTA website's schedule of weekend events, wearing a University of Texas T-shirt and smiling next to a note concerning the Driver's Parade that may happen Sunday from 12-12:30 p.m. (just before the Globe of Death).
There was even a rumor that Ricciardo was to receive the keys to town, although when asked for comment, the mayor's office replied that this was “new” to them.
And then there have been books. Twelve in all – thick black hardcovers containing 600 pages of pristine paper, scattered throughout the fan areas surrounding the track. In front of the tents were signs promoting “Letters to Cowboy Ric from Austin,” which also featured one other illustrated Ricciardo as a cowboy. By Sunday morning, three of them were completely stuffed with notes from fans claiming to be from Argentina, Israel, the UK and beyond.
One of 12 books that fans used to jot down messages to Daniel Ricciardo
The books themselves were a somewhat daring idea of ​​Bobby Epstein, the chairman of COTA.
“We did it for the fans, but we did it for him and that's really why we did it,” Epstein explained. “I feel he contributed so much to our event and the spirit of the sport that we didn't want to see him go without knowing that he was appreciated, loved and cherished. And if he doesn't have a farewell tour, we will at least give him some nice memories that he can look back on whenever he wants.”
On Sunday morning, Epstein saw one in every of the signed books for the primary time and wondered what exactly he would find inside. While browsing, he excitedly asked whoever was within the room for some tabs. A stack of pink Barbie slips of paper was placed in his hand and he immediately began gluing them to the slips of paper. For what purpose, he wasn't sure yet.
There were sketches of shoes and full-page love letters, a couple of messages from haters, and cute doodles from kids who kept confusing little Bs and Ds.
Ingrid, from Austin, who was attending her first ever F1 race, was fascinated about Ricciardo. “Honestly, the way he left Singapore – I should say, the way he was sort of pushed out of Singapore – was really depressing,” she told Motorsport. “I was hoping he would be here in Austin.”
Writing within the book, she said, was a option to connect with him, even when it was a one-way street.
“I just desired to have the ability to prove that I had a likelihood to jot down in a book that perhaps he decided to have a look at on a random day. Because this sport just gives me a lot joy and I wanted him to know that. It's true that he won’t ever meet me, but he’ll know my name within the book I signed.
Signs outside the US GP marquees encouraging fans to jot down messages to Ricciardo
Anamarie got here from Dallas. She wore a Ferrari jacket but talked about how Ricciardo began her Formula 1 fandom.
“I wrote him 'thank you' for encouraging me to pursue this sport,” he said. “Without him, I wouldn't be here today with my sisters at our first Grand Prix.”
Maureen and Valerie, two fans who had just finished signing one in every of the books, flew from the British Virgin Islands to attend the United States GP.
“I'm from the Virgin Islands, so it wasn't easy for me to come here. And he's not even here!” said Maureen, Valerie's traveling companion.
“Danny Ric, I saw his video on Instagram and that's how I started following Formula 1,” Valerie said. “He's so charismatic and so good.”
Of course, you possibly can only cry for a very long time.
“I'm a little sad though because I'm a Lando fan too. And he stole that point from Lando for the fastest lap in Singapore,” Valerie said.
She then asked if the reporter could share her Instagram handle with Norris.
“I'm single,” she explained.
