Red Bull confirm Formula 1 exit for Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson to replace him
One of the favorite drivers of the fans in Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo is officially out from Red Bull Racing (RB). The Australian, a 14-season category regular who is in his first season for JP Motorsport The Experience Bandag (above), will be replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson for the rest of the 2024 season.
Singapore Grand Prix (Final Race & Farewell)
In his last race, the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo was allowed to mount a challenge for the fastest lap in the closing stages of the race. That denied a bonus point to title contender Lando Norris and indirectly gave encouragement to team-mate Max Verstappen in his championship bid. Upon completing the lap, Ricciardo savored what he knew might be his final moment on the F1 grid by sitting in the car for longer than usual and walking back through an applauding honour guard of fans to reach the paddock.
After the race, Ricciardo admitted: “I wanted a fairytale and it’s been another one of those years where I got a podium (but) then just lost out on the last lap.”
A Red Bull Bon voyage to Ricciardo
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said of Ricciardo: “Daniel has shown great counsel to the team, entwined with a positive attitude and an honest approach; engineered things for his repertoire when working in limited space and shared so much valuable knowledge. He has been a class act on and off the track, and his smile will be missed.
Ricciardo — who clinched eight victories, was effusive in his thanks on Instagram: “I have grown up with this sport in my life. It has been a crazy and awesome ride. Thank you to the fans, the teams, and everyone involved. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Daniel Ricciardo’s roller-coaster career
Formula 1 career Ricciardo split his F1 career between ups and downs. He burst on to the F1 scene with Red Bull winning races and proving himself to be a future great. But the arrival of Max Verstappen in 2016 meant Ricciardo was slowly nudged into a number two position. But his transfers to Renault in 2019 and McLaren in 2021 could not produce the desired results. Ricciardo claimed a famous win in Monza in 2021 with McLaren, but he was unable to perform at the desired level on a regular basis.
While 2023 was seen as a second opportunity to return to Red Bull’s sister team, Ricciardo suffered a broken wrist after being involved in a first corner shunt in the Dutch Grand Prix that hampered his progress. He showed occasional glimpses of his old natural speed at Miami (see Sprint) and took a solid eighth in Canada, but consistency was elusive.
Liam Lawson Takes Over
Liam Lawson will step into the seat for the remaining six races of the season from here on now Ricciardo steps aside. After competing in five races last season in which he finished 9th on one occasion, the New Zealander will be hoping to impress across the remainder of the rounds alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
What’s Next for Ricciardo?
Although Ricciardo has not yet announced his future plans, it appears as though that he may seen out his time in F1. Ricciardo can laugh about it now but he said: “that journey for me was like, I’m at peace with myself. And if this is the end, I had a great career and accomplished all of these things. “
While revealing that he has no immediate plans for a career switch, which includes Indycar, and that “scares” him, Ricciardo admits to feeling the lure of the unknown.
Lasting Legacy in Formula 1
As Daniel Ricciardo bids farewell to his Renault team, it is the end of an era for one of Formula 1’s most charismatic drivers. As much as Ricciardo is loved for his smile, killer instinct and bold on-track moves, the Australian has endeared himself to fans — particularly in the United States following the popularity boost from Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” series — leaving a lasting impact on Formula 1.
Red Bull and Honda push on with Liam Lawson, while Ricciardo will go down as a driver who raced with joy, passion and talent in GP history.