RB drops Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson takes his place as driver

Daniel Ricciardo's reported departure from RB has now been confirmed.

RB, the sister team of Red Bull, officially announced on Thursday that Ricciardo will no longer be a part of their roster and will not compete in the remaining six Formula One races of the season. The 35-year-old Australian, who has achieved eight victories and 32 podium finishes in his career, will be replaced by 22-year-old Liam Lawson.

Lawson, a reserve driver for RB since 2022, will make his full-time debut on October 20 at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

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In an Instagram post on Thursday, Ricciardo hinted at the end of his racing career.

"I have always loved this sport. It has been a wild and wonderful journey. To all the teams and individuals who have been a part of it, thank you," he wrote. "To the fans who sometimes love the sport more than I do, thank you. It has had its ups and downs, but it has been a fun ride and truthfully, I wouldn't change a thing. On to the next adventure."

Ricciardo had been racing for RB's sister team since July 2023, hoping for a promotion to Red Bull to race alongside Max Verstappen. However, he has struggled this season and only earned 12 points, placing him in 14th position in the standings. In comparison, Verstappen, the current leader, has 331 points.

RB's other driver, Yuki Tsunoda, has accumulated 22 points and is currently in 12th place.

RB principal Laurent Mekies commented on Ricciardo's departure.

"He has brought a wealth of experience and talent to the team, with a fantastic attitude that has helped everyone grow and foster a strong team spirit," Mekies said in a statement. "Daniel has always been a true gentleman, both on and off the track, and never without his trademark smile. He will be missed, but will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family."

It appears that Ricciardo's lack of results and the potential loss of Lawson prompted RB to make this decision. According to multiple reports, Lawson had a clause in his contract that allowed him to become a free agent if he was not given a seat for the following season. However, RB has decided to make the seat change now instead of waiting until the end of the season.

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Ricciardo finished in 18th place at the Singapore Grand Prix last week.

Lawson made his Grand Prix debut in Zandvoort in 2023, filling in for an injured Ricciardo, and has competed in five races. He finished in ninth place at the Singapore Grand Prix.