Red Bull-owned RB dropped Daniel Ricciardo on Thursday and drafted in New Zealander Liam Lawson as the Australian¡¯s replacement to the end of the Formula One season.

Lawson, 22, has been Red Bull reserve since 2022 and filled in for 35-year-old Ricciardo at five races last year when the eight-times grand prix winner was injured.

The move was widely expected following mounting speculation that the Australian¡¯s Formula One career had reached the end of the road.