Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull exit blamed on what two rival F1 stars have done

Daniel Ricciardo was replace by Liam Lawson after last month's Singapore Grand Prix, with former Red Bull racer Alex Albon believing that the emergence of several rookie drivers played a role in that outcome

Alex Albon thinks impressive performances from rookies this season may have influenced Red Bull's decision to drop Daniel Ricciardo.

The Australian was seen as a backup option for Red Bull if they chose to let go of Sergio Perez. But will not return for the final six rounds of the 2024 season, after his performances for sister outfit VCARB were deemed to have been below the standard required.

Instead, Liam Lawson will take his place alongside Yuki Tsunoda, starting at the United States Grand Prix later this month. It is understood Red Bull's mid-season change is aimed at evaluating Lawson's potential for the main team, with Perez still under pressure despite Ricciardo's exit.

And Albon suggests that the emergence of several rookie drivers excelling in Formula 1 this term with limited preparation also played a part in Red Bull's ruthless decision.

Franco Colapinto has shone since replacing the struggling Logan Sargeant at Williams, while Brit Oliver Bearman scored points in each of his two appearances, one each with Ferrari and Haas. Speaking to the Brazilian edition of Motorsport.com, Albon thinks their strong performances might have persuaded his old employer to look to the next generation.

The former Red Bull driver said: "It's obviously tough. I really like Daniel. He's a super, super person, a great ambassador for the sport as well. Obviously, the decision itself I can't really speak about.

"I imagine in some ways, the fact that Ollie and Franco have done so well, it kind of motivates Red Bull to start rethinking about the youth. Liam did already a good job. But yeah, of course I feel for Daniel. I think he's a super driver as well, more than anything else, so I'm sure he's going to find his feet and do something. I don't know what it would be."

Ricciardo has yet to give any indication of what his next steps might be. Red Bull have offered the affable Aussie the chance to remain on the books as an ambassador of their F1 efforts, but that may prove to be less appealing than an opportunity to drive elsewhere - even if that means joining another racing series away from F1.

Albon thinks Ricciardo might consider a move to the USA, given his popularity across the Atlantic. The 35-year-old was one of the main stars of the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which became extremely popular among American audiences and brought a new wave of fans not only to the sport, but also personally to the Australian.

Williams racer Albon speculated: "I could see him doing something like NASCAR. I just see him as someone who would... He enjoys his life, has connections with the US, so I could see something like that."

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Watch F1 live

Watch Formula One on Sky Sports
£22 a month

Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won't miss a lap on Sky Sports.

Sky
Watch it here