Lawson replaces Ricciardo at RB for F1 season finale

Daniel Ricciardo's Formula One career ended on Thursday when Red Bull's sister team RB announced it would replace him with 22-year-old Liam Lawson for the remainder of the season. The decision closed the book on a 258-race career that had made Ricciardo one of the sport's most beloved figures—a driver whose perpetual grin and willingness to entertain fans had endeared him across two decades, even as his competitive edge gradually dulled.

Ricciardo, now 35, had won eight Grand Prix races and collected 32 podium finishes across his time in Formula One. Seven of those victories came during his years with Red Bull, the team that gave him his greatest platform. His final win arrived in 2021 during a brief and ultimately disappointing spell with McLaren. He finished third in the world championship twice, in 2014 and 2016, the latter season placing him alongside Max Verstappen, who would go on to become a three-time world champion. His last race, at Singapore last weekend, was his 258th—a fitting farewell for a driver who had become as much a fixture of the sport as the circuits themselves.

Lawson, a New Zealander who has served as Red Bull's reserve driver since 2022, steps into the vacant seat. He is no stranger to the team or to Ricciardo's machinery. Last season, Lawson filled in for Ricciardo at five races when the Australian was sidelined by injury, and he navigated those appearances with composure. Team principal Laurent Mekies described Lawson as someone who had "coped well under difficult circumstances," suggesting the transition would be seamless. The 22-year-old acknowledged the weight of the opportunity in a statement, saying he had dreamed of driving in Formula One since childhood and would be ready for the next race, a sprint weekend in Texas on October 18th.

Ricciardo's exit had been anticipated for weeks. He had returned to Formula One midseason last year with hopes of proving he could still compete at the highest level, potentially earning a promotion to the main Red Bull team alongside Sergio Perez. Instead, he was outperformed by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, a Japanese driver who had seized the opportunity to demonstrate his own credentials. The gap between them widened as the season progressed, and by the time Singapore arrived, the writing was clear.

What made Ricciardo's departure poignant was not the competitive reality but the manner in which the team handled it. At Singapore, knowing this might be his final race, RB gave him the chance to pit a third time late in the race to set the fastest lap—a small gesture of respect for a driver who had given the sport so much personality. Ricciardo finished last that day, but he left with dignity intact.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Ricciardo reflected on his journey with characteristic warmth. "I've loved this sport my whole life," he wrote. "It's wild and wonderful and been a journey." He thanked the teams and individuals who had shaped his career, and the fans who had supported him. "It'll always have its highs and lows but it's been fun and truth be told I wouldn't change it," he added, before signing off with "Until the next adventure"—a phrase that suggested he was not closing the door on life beyond racing, but simply turning the page.

Lawson's appointment is widely seen as a stepping stone. RB has already confirmed that Tsunoda will remain with the team in 2025, but the second seat remains open. Lawson is the clear favorite to fill it, and his performance over the final six races of this season—beginning with the Texas sprint and continuing through a grueling triple-header in Mexico and Brazil, followed by another in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—will likely determine whether he secures that permanent spot. For now, he inherits not just a seat but the responsibility of proving that Red Bull's faith in his future is justified.