In a not-so-shocking, anticipated move, Daniel Ricciardo is officially out at Red Bull. After weeks of speculation following the Singapore Grand Prix, the team announced Thursday that the beloved Aussie is losing his seat.
The announcement, which hit fans like a ton of bricks, was as simple as it was final: “Thank you Daniel”—that’s it! Visa Cash App RB F1 Team’s principal, Laurent Mekies, praised Ricciardo’s time with the team in the official statement.
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“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.” Mekies’ kind words couldn’t cushion the blow of Ricciardo being out of the seat.
Taking to his own Instagram to reveal the news too, Daniel penned: “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.
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“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.”
On their website, the team announced they were welcoming in Liam Lawson after speculation. Laurent added: “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.” Ricciardo, who returned to F1 this season after a brief hiatus, joined AlphaTauri mid-season with a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding his comeback. But after a handful of races, it seems the team has decided to move in a different direction.
Daniel gave a heart-wrenching exit speech after what could be his final Formula 1 race at the Singapore Grand Prix. The eight-time Grand Prix winner struggled throughout the weekend, capping off a tough night with a P18 finish.
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In an emotional post-race interview, Ricciardo, visibly tearful, acknowledged that this race marked the end of his F1 career. Following a second consecutive Q1 exit, Ricciardo began the Singapore race from P16, hoping for a strategic miracle that never came.
Reflecting on the race, Ricciardo admitted, “A tough race. Any time you’re out in Q1, you know you’ve got potentially a long day. I had to try something with strategy, and you never know here with the Safety Car, it could work in your favour… Ultimately, we just weren’t quick enough.”
Thank you Daniel 💙
⁰Laurent Mekies on Daniel: “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.”#F1 #VCARB pic.twitter.com/cqKrbFAehU— Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) September 26, 2024
With 257 starts under his belt, Ricciardo’s love for the sport was palpable, even if it might be time to say goodbye. “I just wanted to savor the moment,” he said, wiping away tears.
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