Liam Lawson to replace Daniel Ricciardo at RB for remainder of 2024 F1 season

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull Racing has officially announced that Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of the 2024 Formula 1 season, starting with the U.S. Grand Prix. The announcement, made on Thursday, brings a conclusion to the speculation surrounding Ricciardo's future, a topic that dominated discussions before and after last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

Ricciardo, visibly emotional in post-race interviews, set the fastest lap on his final circuit in Singapore, a poignant marker as it became clear that it was likely his last appearance in the sport. His farewell to the fans and the sport was marked by a heartfelt post on Instagram.

"I've loved this sport my whole life. It's wild and wonderful and been a journey," Ricciardo shared. "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."

Ricciardo's career in F1 is illustrious, with 7 race victories during his initial stint with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018, including a memorable win at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix with McLaren.

Tributes poured in from leading figures across the F1 community. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton posted on Instagram: "It's been an honor to compete with you over the years. I'll never forget the battles, the laughs, and drinking out of your shoe. It was gross, but glad I got to do it with you bud. You leave a legacy of always being yourself, which in this sport is never easy. You've taken it all with the biggest smile and I salute you for it. There is so much more for you up ahead and I can't wait to see what you do next. Always here for you, man."

Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, commented: "From the moment you arrived at Red Bull, it was obvious you were so much more than just a driver. Your constant enthusiasm, sense of humor, and attitude will leave an indelible legacy on the Team here in Milton Keynes and F1 as a whole."

Red Bull posted a thank-you message to Ricciardo before officially announcing Lawson as his replacement 20 minutes later. RB boss Laurent Mekies expressed his gratitude, saying: "Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us. 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. 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."

Lawson, a 22-year-old New Zealander who joined the Red Bull driver programme in 2019, served as Ricciardo's deputy in five races last year, filling in when Ricciardo broke a bone in his hand during practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. Mekies is optimistic about Lawson's transition, stating: "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."

While there was no official confirmation about the 2025 season, it is widely anticipated that Lawson will continue with RB into next year.

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