Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo was dropped by the RB team, announced on Thursday, September 26th. The announcement came after a week of speculation during the Singapore Grand Prix, which Ricciardo ended by saying “I do feel, let’s say, at peace with it,” in his post-race interview.
Ricciardo joined the RB team during the 2023 season, after rookie Nyck de Vries was dropped after 12 races. Ricciardo got injured during the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix weekend and was replaced by Red Bull Junior Driver Liam Lawson for five races. Lawson was able to secure ninth place in the Singapore Grand Prix while subbing for Ricciardo, which sparked conversation over him becoming a permanent driver on the F1 grid. Senior Joshua Panado said, “Liam is a talented driver and deserves a seat on the grid, but Daniel should’ve been given the rest of the season.” Along with the announcement of Ricciardo being dropped, it was announced that Lawson would be filling his seat for the remainder of the 2024 races.
RB’s decision to drop Ricciardo has been very controversial, as many believe that he deserved a more respectful send off after spending 12 years in F1, even debuting for RB in 2012. Ricciardo is the second driver to be dropped this season, being dropped just one month after Williams driver Logan Sargeant. Senior Yaretzi Ramirez Soto said, “It’s weird timing, especially since another driver just got dropped. He’s been a part of the F1 community for so long, it would’ve been nice to see him end the season.”
While Daniel Ricciardo was an excellent driver during his prime, he brought so much more than just his talent to the grid. Ricciardo was well-known for his big smile and enthusiastic personality, earning the nickname “the Honey Badger.” In a farewell post for Ricciardo, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton stated, “You leave a legacy of always being yourself, which in this sport is never easy. You’ve taken it all with the biggest smile, and I salute you for it.”