Red Bull shakes up Formula 1 lineup, Ricciardo loses seat

Daniel Ricciardo, a beloved Formula 1 driver, was dismissed by the Red Bull Racing junior team in an unusual mid-season departure. The 35-year-old Australian driver, with 8 race wins over 14 years, does not have a seat for the next season. The team has chosen Liam Lawson to replace him for the last six races of the 2024 season. Ricciardo thanked his fans in a farewell message on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the journey in the sport. The reason for Ricciardo’s dismissal was not disclosed, but the move comes as Red Bull faces struggles in the 2024 championship. Ricciardo had previously driven for the Red Bull junior team before being promoted to the senior team in 2014. He left in 2018 due to tensions with then-teammate Max Verstappen. Ricciardo made a comeback to the Red Bull family but was unable to secure a firm place on the grid. Lawson, who has impressed the team as a reserve driver, will now take the seat for the remaining races. Team principal Laurent Mekies thanked Ricciardo for his contributions and welcomed Lawson to the team. The Red Bull spokesperson declined to disclose the reason for the swap, including whether a decision about Lawson’s future was on deadline. The move leaves Ricciardo’s future in the sport uncertain, as most teams have already finalized their lineups for next season.

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