Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has been dismissed by the Red Bull Racing junior team mid-season, ending his second stint in the sport. Ricciardo, an eight-time race winner, does not have a seat on the F1 grid for next season. Red Bull junior team announced reserve driver Liam Lawson will replace him for the remaining six races of the 2024 season. There was no specific reason given for Ricciardo’s dismissal or whether the team was on a deadline to make this decision.
Ricciardo thanked his fans and teams in a farewell message on Instagram. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Ricciardo for his hard work and the positive impact he had on the team spirit. The move comes as Red Bull faces challenges in the 2024 championship, with McLaren overtaking them in the constructors’ standings and Red Bull’s top driver Max Verstappen facing competition from Lando Norris.
Ricciardo had previously driven for the Red Bull junior team in 2011 before moving to the senior team in 2014. He left Red Bull in 2018 and had a difficult season with McLaren before returning to the Red Bull family in 2023. With Lawson taking his seat, hopes were high for Ricciardo to return to form alongside Verstappen, but that did not materialize. The team is known for promoting candidates to the senior team and Lawson has previously impressed Red Bull leaders.
Ricciardo appeared emotional after the Singapore race, hinting at the possibility of his replacement. Lawson, who knows the team well and has experience subbing for drivers, is set to take over and the team is focused on the rest of the season together.
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