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The news that Daniel Ricciardo’s time with the Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team has come to an end has been circulating since Sunday, but it wasn’t until today that Red Bull Racing made it official. While Ricciardo’s colleagues expressed their goodbyes on social media and TV commentators discussed the situation, Red Bull remained silent until confirming this afternoon that he is out, effective immediately, following the Singapore Grand Prix.
Liam Lawson will take over Ricciardo’s position for the remainder of the 2024 season, after which Red Bull will explore their options for the 2025 season. With Ricciardo’s future in doubt, it seems unlikely he will secure a seat for 2025, potentially marking the end of his F1 career. There is a slim chance he could take a break and return in 2026, but teams may prefer drivers who have shown better recent performances.
As pointed out by Elizabeth Blackstock earlier this week, Ricciardo deserved a more commendable farewell than the somewhat lackluster one he received in Singapore. While it’s been evident that he has not performed at his peak for a while, his contributions to Red Bull—through wins, podium finishes, and enhancing the team’s visibility and brand—are undeniable.
This season, Ricciardo’s best result was a fourth-place finish during the sprint race in Miami. He has continuously struggled to match the performance of his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. Currently, he is ranked 14th in the championship standings with 12 points, tied with Alex Albon from Williams, but trailing Tsunoda by two positions and 10 points.
The future is uncertain for Ricciardo, and he is not the only one facing ambiguity. There are rumors suggesting that Sergio Perez may depart his role at the end of the season, which could create an opening in a highly competitive field. Given Ricciardo’s recent split from the Red Bull team, it appears unlikely he would rejoin them; his best option might be to compete with Valtteri Bottas for a remaining seat at Audi/Sauber.
Throughout his 14-year career in F1, spanning 258 races with teams such as HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, and Racing Bulls, Ricciardo celebrated eight victories, secured 32 podium finishes, and accumulated 1,329 points.
On his Instagram account, Ricciardo expressed, “I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey. To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me haha 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.”
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