Liam Lawson Replaces Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo's exit from the Red Bull junior team VCARB has been confirmed, with Liam Lawson taking his place for the remainder of the 2024 F1 season. Team principal Christian Horner cited Ricciardo's lack of consistency as the primary reason for his dismissal, revealing that senior advisor Helmut Marko had considered replacing him as early as the Spanish Grand Prix. The decision comes amid ongoing struggles for Ricciardo, who had been brought in to mentor teammate Yuki Tsunoda but failed to perform at a competitive level. Horner also indicated that Lawson's promotion serves as an audition to potentially replace Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen next season. This move reflects Red Bull's broader strategy to evaluate junior drivers, especially as Ricciardo's performance has not met expectations. The abrupt nature of Ricciardo's departure has drawn criticism, as he was informed of his exit shortly after the Singapore Grand Prix without a more formal farewell.