DANIEL Ricciardo officially said goodbye to Formula 1 (F1) and the empty seat he left at RB was filled by young racer Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Ricciardo in his upload on Instagram, Friday (27/), thanked the fans for his amazing journey throughout his F1 career.
“I have loved this sport all my life. This sport is wild and amazing and a journey,” said Ricciardo as quoted by Between.
The 35-year-old’s contract expired after the Singapore GP, some time ago, and he was dropped with six races remaining, possibly marking the end of his long career in the sport.
“Thank you to the teams and individuals who have played a role. Thank you to the fans who sometimes love this sport more than me. There will always be ups and downs, but it’s fun and honestly I wouldn’t change it,” he said.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (Mercedes), as well as Max Verstappen (Red Bull) also paid tribute to the Australian racer.
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“It has been an honor to compete with you over the years,” said seven-time world champion Hamilton Instagram.
“There is much more you will do in the future and I can’t wait to see what you will do next,” he added.
Not only that, appreciation for Ricciardo also poured in from fellow racers on this year’s grid such as Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), and Pierre Gasly (Alpine).
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Red Bull chief Christan Horner said: “Ricciardo has left an unforgettable legacy at RB.”
“Thank you for your wins, smiles, songs. You will always be a special part of the Red Bull family,” said Horner.
Ricciardo is one of the most popular drivers in the sport, with an infectious smile and sense of humor that are his trademarks.
He spent 13 years on the grid, taking 32 podiums and eight wins from Toro Rosso (later AlphaTauri and now RB), Red Bull, Renault and McLaren scoring 1,329 points. (Z-6)
#Ricciardo #Resigns
