Daniel Ricciardo will not continue at Red Bull Racing sister team Racing Bulls (RB) as the Australian has been replaced by Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 season, Afrosport reports.
The 35-year-old, who has won eight grand prix during his Formula 1 career, has been officially dropped on Thursday, with Red Bull management citing his numerous uninspiring performances as the key reason.
BREAKING: Daniel Ricciardo to leave RB, the team have announced#F1 pic.twitter.com/dWK02446hM
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 26, 2024
With six races till the end of the season, Lawson, will make a return to the grid a year after his five-race appearance in 2023 when he stood in for the injured Ricciardo after he broke his arm
For Ricciardo, this feels like a goodbye to the sport having enjoyed success in his career. The Australian, who has competed in 257 Grand Prix across 14 seasons in his F1 career, penned a heartfelt message of gratitude on his Instagram account.
The post read: “I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey.
“To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me haha thank you.
“It’ll always have its highs and lows but it’s been fun and truth be told I wouldn’t change it. Until the next adventure.”
Thank you, Daniel 🥹#F1 pic.twitter.com/GmEZYXAML4
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 26, 2024
Meanwhile, RB team principal Laurent Mekies said: “Everyone here at [RB] would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us.
“He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit.
“Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the track and never without that smile. He will be missed, but will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome Liam. He already knows the team well. He drove for us last season, and coped well under difficult circumstances, so it’ll be a natural transition.
“It’s great to see young talent from within the Red Bull family make the next step. We’re looking forward to getting our heads down and focusing on the rest of the season together.”
Lawson, on the other hand, would be hoping to garner as much good impression as possible to help him cement a spot with RB on the 2025 grid.
The 22-year-old New Zealander scored two points at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix to finish in ninth-place as well as two 11th-place finishes, and will definitely be under the microscope for the remainder of the season.
If he impresses like he did last season, he could be promoted to represent Red Bull alongside three-time champion Max Verstappen, whose teammate Sergio Perez’s future looks a bit bleak.
