Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo at RB for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Red Bull finally confirmed on Thursday.
The saga over Ricciardo's future dominated the buildup and aftermath of last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.
Ricciardo was emotional in interviews after the race, where he set the fastest lap on his final lap, as it became apparent it was likely his final race in the sport.
Red Bull, owner of the RB team, has now made the news official, announcing Lawson will step in for Ricciardo from the U.S. Grand Prix onward.
Lawson, 22, joined the Red Bull driver programme in 2019.
The New Zealander raced for RB in five races last year as deputy for Ricciardo, who broke a bone in his hand during practice for the Dutch Grand Prix.
The news likely signals the end of Ricciardo's F1 career, and he bid farewell to the sport in a post on Instagram.
Thank you Daniel 💙
— Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) September 26, 2024
⁰Laurent Mekies on Daniel: "He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the Team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit."#F1 #VCARB pic.twitter.com/cqKrbFAehU
"I've loved this sport my whole life. It's wild and wonderful and been a journey," Ricciardo wrote. "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."
Ricciardo won seven races in his original stint with Red Bull between 2014 and 2018, also claiming victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix for McLaren.
Leading figures around F1 paid tribute to Ricciardo on social media.
"It's been a honour to compete with you over the years," seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton posted on Instagram. "I'll never forget the battles, the laughs, and drinking out of your shoe. It was gross, but glad I got to do it with you bud.
"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. There is so much more for you up ahead and I can't wait to see what you do next. Always here for you, man."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added on Instagram: "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."
On Thursday, RB posted a thank-you message to Ricciardo, praising him for his service to the team, before the news release announcing Lawson followed 20 minutes later.
RB boss Laurent Mekies said: "Everyone here at VCARB [Visa Cash App RB] would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us. He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the Team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit.
"Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the track and never without that smile. He will be missed, but will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family.
"I'd also like to take this opportunity to welcome Liam. He already knows the team well. He drove for us last season, and coped well under difficult circumstances, so it'll be a natural transition. It's great to see young talent from within the Red Bull family make the next step. We're looking forward to getting our heads down and focusing on the rest of the season together."
Although there was no confirmation of 2025 in the release, it is widely expected Lawson will continue on with RB into next season.