Daniel Ricciardo Replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo, widely regarded as one of the most popular and amicable drivers in Formula 1, has been released by Red Bull Racing. The announcement came on Thursday, with the team appointing Liam Lawson as his immediate replacement.

During the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, 35-year-old Ricciardo anticipated what would likely be his final race in the sport. This was confirmed when his team, Red Bull (RB), called him into the pits before the final lap, affording the Australian an opportunity to clock the fastest lap of the race. By securing this achievement, Ricciardo managed to deduct a bonus point from Lando Norris, a top candidate for the title, thereby indirectly assisting Max Verstappen in his pursuit of a fourth consecutive drivers’ championship.

After the race, Ricciardo lingered significantly longer than usual in his car, relishing his final moments in Formula 1. Upon leaving the vehicle, he passed through a guard of honor formed by fans who had gathered to applaud him. The Australian driver acknowledged that this was likely his farewell race, noting that he had hoped his stint with RB might lead to a return to Red Bull Racing’s main team, but he did not receive the “fairytale ending” he had envisioned.

Laurent Mekies, the team principal of RB, expressed appreciation for Ricciardo’s contributions, saying, “Everyone here at VCARB wants to thank Daniel for his hard work over the past two seasons. He brought a wealth of experience and talent to the team, along with a fantastic attitude that helped everyone grow and foster strong team cohesion.” Mekies added, “Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the track. We will miss him, but he will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family.”

Ricciardo has competed in Formula 1 for 14 seasons and has notched up eight victories, his last win being at Monza in 2021 while driving for McLaren. After being bought out by McLaren at the end of the 2022 season, Ricciardo returned to Red Bull as a team ambassador, participating in seven races in 2023 with Red Bull’s sister team. Despite being offered a full-time seat for 2024, he only finished in the points three times over 18 races.

Ricciardo’s career highlights include finishing third in the championship in 2014 and 2016, during which time Mercedes was the dominant team and he was the “best of the rest” at Red Bull. After Max Verstappen joined Red Bull midway through the 2016 season, Ricciardo’s role gradually shifted to a supporting position. His career hit a plateau following stints with Renault in 2019 and McLaren in 2021, where he was frequently outperformed by Norris.

Beyond racing, Ricciardo has played a significant role in boosting Formula 1’s profile, particularly in the United States, largely due to the influence of Netflix‘s “Drive To Survive” series. However, he has shown no interest in American motorsport and expressed apprehension about oval circuit races in IndyCar, stating they “scare” him.

Future endeavors for Ricciardo remain uncertain. He remarked, “When I came into F1, everyone knew me as the happy guy and the nice guy, but I have a killer instinct. I truly believe I can be a world champion, and for me, it’s like asking myself: ‘Why else would I do this?'”

In taking over Ricciardo’s seat, Liam Lawson from New Zealand will conclude the season alongside Yuki Tsunoda at RB. Lawson participated in five F1 races last year, securing a ninth-place finish as a substitute when Ricciardo suffered a hand injury. He has served as Red Bull’s reserve driver since 2022 and made his Grand Prix debut at Zandvoort the previous year during Ricciardo’s injury.

Sports journalist James Ellingworth of the Associated Press contributed to this report.