Daniel Ricciardo replaced by Liam Lawson at RB

The 35-year-old had been under pressure this year following his return to Formula 1 with RB, which was expected to result in a step back up into the main Red Bull team. Despite having shown promise when he tested with Red Bull in 2023, the Australian has been consistently outpaced by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. 

Before the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo had managed to accrue three points-scoring finishes in 2024, while his Japanese team-mate had crossed the line in the top ten seven times, adding nearly double Ricciardo’s points to the team’s tally.

What might now be Ricciardo’s last ever fastest lap in F1 was not enough to overcome the doubts that have grown in team boss Laurent Mekies’ mind. Finishing last on the road, while Tsunoda challenged for points in Singapore, will have done the Australian’s cause no good.

In a statement RB boss Laurent Mekies said: “Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us. 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.“

“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.”

"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. 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."

Lawson will make his return to F1 when the circus reconvenes at COTA in late October for the United States Grand Prix. In his 2023 run he impressed all, and a ninth-place finish in Singapore that year secured Lawson his first F1 points. 

Rumours had been circulating all season about Ricciardo’s future, and they became stronger and stronger in the build-up to the Singapore Grand Prix. As Red Bull reserve driver Lawson replaced Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri for five races when he broke his hand in 2023 and impressed by getting up to speed straight away.

Ricciardo was emotional after the race in Singapore, despite his fastest lap and winning driver of the day – an award perhaps largely driven by Formula 1 commentator David Croft’s pleas on Sky, rather than his own performance, potentially showcasing that the 35-year-old knew that his fate was coming.

Neither his RB team or Red Bull boss Christian Horner provided Ricciardo with any real solace with their words over the weekend. Mekies was balanced in his words to Sky from the pit wall over the weekend, while Horner admitted that the future for the second RB seat alongside Tsunoda was less than certain. 

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.