Red Bull’s team RB made headlines when it released Daniel Ricciardo and recruited Liam Lawson, a New Zealander, as his replacement until the conclusion of the Formula One season. The seasoned Austrailian driver had been temporarily replaced by Lawson, 22, who served as Red Bull’s standby option since 2022, for five matches in the previous year due to an injury.
Ricciardo’s exit came as no surprise amid growing rumours that his time in Formula One was drawing to a close. Despite returning to the team mid-season in the hopes of proving he still had the mettle, potentially filling in for Sergio Perez on the main Red Bull team, he was noticeably overshadowed by Yuki Tsunoda from Japan at RB.
Issuing a statement, team manager Laurent Mekies lauded Ricciardo’s demeanor, both on and off the circuit, praising his perpetual cheerfulness. However, he also used the opportunity to extend a warm welcome to Lawson, who has previously raced for the team and dealt fittingly with challenging situations, anticipating a comfortable transition.
RB, headquartered in Italy, initially posted a message of gratitude on social media following the announcement. On Instagram, Ricciardo shared his feelings about the sport, which he revealed has been central to his life, referring to it as “wild and wonderful” and expressing gratitude toward his teams, colleagues and fans alike.
Ricciardo’s decision to leave was seemingly confirmed during the previous weekend’s race at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he finished last. However, it was his decision to pit for a third time towards the end and fit fresh tyres that enabled him to secure the fastest lap time. The team evidently took the opportunity to allow him this chance, foresighting it to likely be his last race.
Ricciardo, a cordial and popular figure among fans, will undoubtedly be greatly missed. Many will remember him for his seven victories with Red Bull and his last win, albeit unsuccessful, with McLaren in 2021.
In the championships of 2014 and 2016, he secured the third position. It was during 2016 that he was a team member alongside the now thrice world champion, Max Verstappen. His career has spanned 258 races, with 32 occasions on the podium and earning 1,329 points.
Since his stint as a substitute, Lawson has been patiently waiting, with it being blatant that his future was in Formula One as per Red Bull.
Red Bull has confirmed Tsunoda as a part of the team in 2025, yet the other seat is still undecided, albeit with a significant inclination towards Lawson.
Having the chance to drive for VCARB (RB) is a dream come true for him, since his childhood aspiration was to race in Formula One. He stated his intention to prepare himself to the fullest for Austin.
The upcoming race, being held in Texas between the 18th and the 20th of October, is a sprint weekend and marks the beginning of three sharply consecutive races also in Mexico and Brazil. The racing season concludes with another sequence of three consecutive races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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