In a recent revelation, Liam Lawson, the rookie Formula 1 driver, has shared that Daniel Ricciardo was the sole racer to extend a congratulatory message upon his ascendance to a Red Bull seat for the F1 2025 season. Lawson, a native of New Zealand, is currently gearing up for his inaugural full season with Red Bull, stepping into the shoes of Max Verstappen’s previous partner, Sergio Perez, who relinquished his position at the end of last year.
Lawson’s journey to the Red Bull seat was not without its hiccups. He made his unexpected F1 debut with the Racing Bulls team (formerly known as AlphaTauri) in the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, a fortunate break that came about due to Ricciardo’s hand injury. However, despite his noteworthy performances, including achieving the team’s best result of the season by finishing ninth in Singapore, Lawson was sidelined for the 2024 season. Instead, the team chose to retain the recuperated Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.
In a surprising turn of events, Ricciardo was dropped the following year, paving the way for Lawson to compete in the final six races of the previous season. This ultimately led to his promotion to Red Bull’s principal team. Lawson’s candid conversation with GQ Australia revealed that throughout this tumultuous period, Ricciardo remained a supportive figure, never uttering a word of resentment or blame.
The newly-promoted Red Bull driver spoke highly of Ricciardo, stating, “Throughout the whole ordeal, from when the rumours started to when they were confirmed, he never said a bad word about or towards me.” Lawson further revealed that Ricciardo was the only driver, past or present, to acknowledge his promotion with a congratulatory message, a gesture that speaks volumes about Ricciardo’s character.
Reflecting on his journey, Lawson confessed that the uncertainty surrounding his F1 future was an emotional rollercoaster. He admitted that although it was a brutal experience watching the races from the sidelines, he never wished for Ricciardo’s career downturn. Instead, he focused on seizing every single opportunity Red Bull provided him with, despite the harrowing experience.
Ricciardo, on the other hand, has remained largely silent since the end of his F1 career last September, only breaking his social media hiatus recently with a promotional post for a new business venture. Ricciardo’s unexpected decline surprised many, including Racing Bulls racing director Alan Permane, who previously worked with Ricciardo at Renault. Permane reminisced about Ricciardo’s initial ease with racing, his speed, and the joy he brought to the sport, making his struggles with Racing Bulls all the more baffling.
In Permane’s words, “The Daniel I knew when we were at Renault together, it all just came very easily for him.” Despite his struggles, Ricciardo maintained his professionalism, constantly striving to improve and overcome his challenges. While his career might have come to a premature end, Ricciardo’s legacy continues through the respect and admiration of racers like Lawson.