Daniel Ricciardo will be replaced by Liam Lawson from the US Grand Prix, finally confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in Formula 1.
The 35-year-old Ricciardo knew at the Singapore Grand Prix it was likely his final race, and told Sky Sports he was “at peace” with that possibility.
RB pitted him with only three laps remaining for a fresh set of tyres, before he duly set the fastest lap of the race. After taking the chequered flag – waved by Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue – he sat inside his car for an unusually long time, savouring his final moments.
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The team confirmed Ricciardo’s axing in the early hours of Friday morning (AEST).
“I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey,” Ricciardo said on Instagram.
“To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me … 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.”
Ricciardo is one of the most popular drivers on the grid – not just among fans, but also his peers. Several posted lengthy tributes of their own.
Lewis Hamilton shared a shoey with Ricciardo on the podium after the 2020 Emelia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
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“It’s been a honour to compete with you over the years. I’ll never forget the battles, the laughs, and drinking out of your shoe,” the seven-time world champion said.
“It was gross, but glad I got to do it with you bud.
“You leave a legacy of always being yourself, which in this sport is never easy. You’ve taken it all with the biggest smile and I salute you for it.
“There is so much more for you up ahead and I can’t wait to see what you do next. Always here for you, man.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Ricciardo will leave an “indelible legacy” on the Milton Keynes team.
“From the moment you arrived at Red Bull it was obvious you were so much more than just a driver,” he said.
“Your constant enthusiasm, sense of humour and attitude will leave an indelible legacy on the team here in Milton Keynes and F1 as a whole.
“Thank you for the wins, smiles, songs (and I wish I could say the shoeys), you will always be a special part of the Red Bull Family.
“Eight wins, 32 podiums, 1329 points. These statistics and accolades are not the only measure of who you are and what you have achieved. Thank you Daniel.”
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After the Singapore race, Ricciardo walked through a guard of honour of RB personnel as he returned to the team’s hospitality compound.
“Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us,” RB team principal Laurent Mekies said.
“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.”
Ricciardo won eight races over 14 seasons, with his final victory coming at Monza in 2021 when he won driving for McLaren. He was bought out of his McLaren deal after the 2022 season, and he was hired to return to Red Bull as a team ambassador.
That led to seven races in 2023 with Red Bull’s sister team. Ricciardo was given the seat full-time for 2024 but through 18 races he’s only finished inside the points three times.
His best finish in the championship was third in 2014 and 2016 — both years when Mercedes dominated the season and Ricciardo, then at Red Bull, was effectively best of the rest.
Verstappen’s arrival at Red Bull part-way through the 2016 season gradually saw Ricciardo move into a supporting role. His career stalled after a move to Renault at 2019, and after switching to McLaren in 2021, he was largely outclassed by Norris.
Ricciardo made a lasting impact on F1 as one of the faces of the sport’s boom in the United States driven by Netflix’s “Drive To Survive” series. But he has shown no interest in moving to American motorsports, and said at Singapore last weekend that racing IndyCar on ovals “scared” him.
He doesn’t know what’s next.
Lawson, from New Zealand, will finish the season at RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson took part in five F1 races last year, with a best finish of ninth, as a replacement when Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash.
Lawson has been a Red Bull reserve driver since 2022, making his grand prix debut in Zandvoort last year when Ricciardo was injured. His five-race drive saw him score points for the team and he finished ninth at the Singapore GP.
“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,” Mekies said.
“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.”