Red Bull team principal Christian Horner wrote a heartfelt message to Daniel Ricciardo, who recently parted ways with VCARB. The announcement was made earlier on Friday, September 27, and Liam Lawson will replace him for the remainder of the season.
Ricciardo had been racing for VCARB since 2023 when he was called in mid-season to replace Nyck de Vries. Ironically enough, the team replaced him the same way with Liam Lawson because of his seemingly subpar performances in the season so far. While the decision might have been strategic, fans were largely disappointed given the following the Australian has gained over the years.Christian Horner, under whom Daniel Ricciardo peaked in his career with Red Bull, shared a strong message upon his departure from the team. He wrote:
“From the moment you arrived at Red Bull it was obvious you were so much more than just a driver. Your constant enthusiasm, sense of humour and attitude will leave an indelible legacy on the Team here in Milton Keynes and F1 as a whole.”
“Thank you for the wins, smiles, songs (and I wish I could say the shoeys), you will always be a special part of the Red Bull Family. 8 wins, 32 podiums, 1329 points. These statistics and accolades are not the only measure of who you are and what you have achieved. Thank you Daniel.”
Daniel Ricciardo raced with Red Bull for five consecutive seasons, winning seven races. He ultimately moved to Renault in 2019 and then to McLaren in 2021. He was signed again by RBR but as its third driver in 2023 after parting ways with McLaren post-2022.
Daniel Ricciardo posts emotional message after VCARB departure
Daniel Ricciardo took to social media to express his feelings after the announcement was made. In a touching message, he wrote about his love for Formula 1, appreciated the fans, and hinted towards a potential “next adventure.”
He wrote:
“I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey. To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me haha thank you. It’ll always have its highs and lows but it’s been fun and truth be told I wouldn’t change it.”
“Until the next adventure.”
Although there could be a vacant seat at Sauber in the 2025 F1 season, it is unlikely that it will be available for Daniel Ricciardo. There seems to be no possible seat for him to sign in the next season and there is a chance that he might try his hand in other racing series. IndyCar has been a popular speculation, but he hasn’t hinted about his immediate steps after his Red Bull departure.
