Lawson replaces Ricciardo at RB for the rest of 2024

RB has confirmed Liam Lawson will race for the team for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season in place of Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo’s future was the center of speculation at the Singapore Grand Prix and the Australian ended the weekend admitting there was a chance he had raced for the final time Formula 1. A Red Bull review of its driver line-up has now resulted in Lawson (pictured at right, above, with Ricciardo) being promoted back into a race seat starting with the next race -- the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.

Lawson impressed team management during his five-race stint in place of the injured Ricciardo last year. He finished ninth in Singapore last season to score two points while standing in for Ricciardo, but the Australian returned at COTA to see out the year. He started this season trying to earn himself another chance at Red Bull Racing, but despite considering a change, the senior team opted to stick with Sergio Perez in the summer break.

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Ricciardo’s 2024 has seen him score a best result of eighth place in the Canadian Grand Prix, although he finished an impressive fourth in the Sprint in Miami as one of four point-scoring finishes. He has been outscored by 22 points to 12 by teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is already confirmed at RB for next season.

“Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us,” RB team principal Laurent Mekies said. “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.

“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.”

At this stage, RB has only confirmed Lawson for the remainder of this season, with the seat alongside Tsunoda in 2025 not yet officially announced. Despite the show of faith in August, questions remain over Perez’s long-term future at Red Bull, after a run of 41 points in the past 12 races. While the Red Bull has become a less competitive car, teammate Max Verstappen has scored 195 points in the same spell.