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| Daniel Ricciardo has secured eight Grand Prix victories throughout his Formula 1 career. |
Daniel Ricciardo has been replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the rest of the 2024 season.
The 35-year-old Australian has been dropped with six races remaining, as Red Bull management expressed concerns about his recent performances. This change allows Lawson to showcase his abilities before the team finalizes its plans for 2025.
RB team principal Laurent Mekies stated, Daniel has contributed a wealth of experience and talent to the team, fostering a strong team spirit with his fantastic attitude.
He has been a true gentleman both on and off the track, always wearing that trademark smile. He will be missed, but he will always have a special place in the Red Bull family.
Lawson, 22, stepped in for five races last season after Ricciardo suffered a wrist injury in a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix. The New Zealander earned two points with a ninth-place finish at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Mekies stated, Liam drove for us last season and handled the challenges well, making this a natural transition.
Red Bull's statement did not address the team's lineup for 2025. Japan's Yuki Tsunoda is confirmed for a seat, but the identity of his teammate has yet to be announced.
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| Liam Lawson has competed in both Formula 2 and Japan's Super Formula series. |
What led to Ricciardo's dismissal?
Ricciardo’s cheerful personality and sense of humor have made him one of Formula 1's most beloved figures throughout his 13-year career.
From 2014 to 2020, he was regarded as one of the sport's top drivers. Promoted to the Red Bull team in 2014 from the junior program, he outperformed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in his debut season, securing three wins to Vettel's none.
During his five years at Red Bull, he achieved a total of seven impressive victories, even while Mercedes dominated the sport. His signature late-dive overtaking maneuvers became a hallmark of his driving style.
However, Ricciardo's career began to decline after he chose to leave Red Bull at the end of 2018. He felt the team was increasingly focused on his teammate Max Verstappen, who had joined from the junior program in 2016 and won on his debut in Spain.
As Verstappen established his dominance, Ricciardo sensed he had little chance to change the situation, especially as management began to favor the Dutch driver. Seeking a fresh start, he accepted a lucrative offer from Renault, which paid him $55 million over two seasons in 2019-20, hoping to build a successful future with the French team.
His performances remained strong, as he outperformed his first teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, in 2019 and then Esteban Ocon in 2020 before moving to McLaren for 2021.
That switch marked a turning point for Ricciardo. Although he secured his last victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, he was consistently outperformed by teammate Lando Norris throughout the season. When this trend continued into 2022, McLaren opted to release Ricciardo in favor of fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, a year before his contract was set to expire.
Ricciardo was given a lifeline by Red Bull, who named him their reserve driver for 2023. He was later promoted to a race seat at their second team midway through the season as a replacement for Nyck de Vries. At the time, Red Bull considered him a potential candidate to replace Sergio Perez alongside Verstappen in the main team.
Unfortunately, Ricciardo has struggled to match the performance of Yuki Tsunoda, which has diminished his chances of a return to Red Bull. His final highlight came at the recent Singapore Grand Prix, where he helped Verstappen by securing the fastest lap, denying Lando Norris an extra point in the championship.
What lies ahead for Lawson?
Lawson's promotion gives him a chance to solidify his future at Red Bull, whether at the junior team or the main squad.
Sergio Perez faced pressure regarding his seat throughout last year and after a lackluster start to this season. Red Bull considered replacing him during the summer break but ultimately decided to retain him, weighing the risks of making a change.
Despite signing a new contract in May that runs until the end of 2026, Perez's ongoing struggles leave his position uncertain. It’s likely that Lawson will remain as a race driver for 2025, and this presents him with an opportunity to position himself for a potential promotion to the senior team in the future.
Formula 1 will take a four-week break before the final six races of the 2024 season, with the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, set for October 18-20.
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