Daniel Ricciardo’s second spell in Formula 1 has come to an abrupt end as Red Bull has confirmed his immediate departure. Stepping in for the final six races of the season will be New Zealander Liam Lawson, a rising talent from the Red Bull stables.

Ricciardo, the much-loved Australian, returned to a Formula 1 race seat last year with AlphaTauri, which later rebranded as Red Bull’s sister team for this season. While there have been moments of brilliance, including scoring points in five races and a stunning fourth-place finish in the Miami Sprint, his performance has fallen short of what Red Bull’s hierarchy had hoped for. Sitting 14th in the driver standings, Ricciardo trails teammate Yuki Tsunoda by 10 points.

Despite a valiant drive at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he managed the fastest lap but finished 18th, it wasn’t enough to secure his seat. And so, it’s lights out for Ricciardo’s 2024 season, with little certainty about his future in the sport. A potential vacancy at Sauber-Audi is the last flicker of hope for 2025, but with Valtteri Bottas tipped to retain his seat, Ricciardo’s chances seem slim.

If this is truly the end, Ricciardo leaves behind a legacy. Eight wins, 32 podiums, and a massive 1329 points over 258 Grands Prix. He’s had a 14-season journey that took him from HRT, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, and back to the Red Bull fold. His best championship finishes came in 2014 and 2016, when he clinched P3 in the drivers’ standings.

Following the announcement of his departure, Ricciardo turned to Instagram with a heartfelt message reflecting on his career:  

“I’ve loved this sport my whole life,” Ricciardo said. “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.”

Lawson, Red Bull’s reserve driver, will now step into Ricciardo’s shoes, starting with the United States Grand Prix in Austin. This final stint of the season offers Red Bull a chance to gauge Lawson’s pace against Tsunoda, who is having his best season to date and is already signed on for next year.

“Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us,” said team boss Laurent Mekies. “He’s brought vast experience, talent, and an infectious attitude that helped to create a close-knit, motivated team. Daniel’s professionalism and ever-present smile will be missed, but he’ll always have a place within the Red Bull family.”

Mekies also welcomed Lawson, expressing confidence in the young driver’s ability to integrate smoothly into the team. “Liam already knows the team well, having driven for us last season in challenging circumstances, and we’re looking forward to finishing the season strong together.”

With the final races looming, the spotlight now shifts to Lawson and Red Bull’s future. And as for Ricciardo, only time will tell where his next adventure takes him.