Daniel Ricciardo sacked: Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen react to brutal axing

Daniel Ricciardo may have driven his last F1 race – with the Australian star sacked by Red Bull. And it’s triggered an outpouring of emotion from fellow drivers, bosses and fans.

Daniel Ricciardo is going viral once again, but this time it’s an outpouring of emotion, tributes and thank you messages from fellow drivers, team bosses and fans after the Australian F1 superstar was sacked for the second, and perhaps final, time of his Formula One career.

The RB team announced in the early hours of Friday morning AEST that Ricciardo would be replaced for the final six races of the F1 2024 season by Kiwi young gun Liam Lawson.

It was a brutal and, in the opinion of Ricciardo fans, disrespectful end of a F1 career that played out so poorly by the RB team.

Ricciardo was forced to race through the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend with fierce rumours that the axe was due to fall on him after the race, marking what would likely be the final time he would sit behind the wheel of an F1 car in a career that had lasted more than a decade and featured eight Grand Prix victories.

Fans across the world were united in their belief it was not the way a champion deserved to exit the sport, without the chance to say a proper goodbye.

It is estimated Ricciardo has earned more than $100 million across his career behind the wheel at HRT, Torro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren, Alpha Tauri and RB, not to mention the off-track endorsements for a character that truly ignited global interest in the motorsport category.

The outpouring of support confirms Ricciardo’s standing as one of the most popular drivers on the grid. Picture: Getty

As one of the leading stars of Netflix series Drive to Survive, Ricciardo helped F1 got to new levels as a global sporting giant and it is that popularity created by the Aussie with a megawatt smile that prompted such an outpouring of tributes on Friday.

Within four hours of his Instagram post he had received more than 56,000 comments including from Lewis Hamilton who simply replied: “Legend.”

Hamilton even made a tribute post sharing photos of them together to his 37.7m followers including their podium shoeys.

“It’s been an honour to compete with you over the years. I’ll never forget the battles, the laughs, and drinking out of your shoe,” he wrote.

Lewis Hamilton (L) has paid tribute to Daniel Ricciardo. Picture: Getty

“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.”

World champion Max Verstappen also weighed in with: “Head up mate! Many more beautiful moments to come.”

“Daniel” and “Danny Ricc” were automatically two trending topics on social platform X.

Rival George Russell posted his own message of thanks to Ricciardo.

“F1 won’t be the same without you, mate. All the best on the next adventure, Ricciardo Daniel,” Russell wrote followed by emojis of a honey pot and badger in reference to his nickname the “Honey Badger.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner posted a series of pics with Ricciardo, embracing on a podium, sharing a shoey and drenched in the Monaco pool after his famous win there in 2018 along with an emotional tribute.

“From the moment you arrived at Red Bull it was obvious you were so much more than just a driver,” Horner wrote to his 2.5m followers.

“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,” Horner wrote.

“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.”

Fellow Australian driver Oscar Piastri congratulated Ricciardo on his career.

“Congrats on everything you achieved DR,” Piastri commented on Ricciardo’s Instagram post.

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly said Ricciardo would be missed in the F1 paddock and he would never forget the time he rode the horse into the track in Texas.

“Congrats on your career DR!! A huge lot to be proud of!!” Gasly wrote on Instagram

“I will always remember that one time you showed up in a paddock riding that horse, hell yeah!! One of a kind, and enjoyed those late dive bombs of yours, we will miss you in the paddock honey badger.

“All the best on your next adventures and enchante buddy!!

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said:

“The one and only @danielricciardo you’ll be missed in the paddock mate,” Leclerc posted to his Instagram stories.

“Good luck with everything.”

Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri chat during a driver press conference. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Brazilian former F1 driver Felipe Massa joined the fun as well.

“Congratulations for your amazing career brother,” Massa posted on Instagram along with a photo of Ricciardo racing mini F1 cars.

“And for the fantastic person you are!! We love you @danielricciardo

“Now for sure you will have more time for meeting together!! And also having fun and success in another motorsport category!! Kisses, Felipe.

Former F1 driver David Coulthard said:

“@danielricciardo has become one of the most loved people in the sport,” Coulthard posted under a photo of a honey badger.

“An infectious smiler & incredible driver …. We will all miss him from the paddock.”

His former team McLaren, who sacked him in 2022 to replace him with young Aussie star Oscar Piastri, also posted two messages of thanks to Ricciardo.

Until this season, where McLaren are now leading the Constructors’ title, Ricciardo was the team’s most recent race winner after a memorable victory in Monza.

“Thank you for the memories, Daniel. You’l forever be etched into McLaren’s history. We’ll always have Monza,” McLaren wrote.

McLaren team boss Zak Brown, who infamously got a tattoo of that Monza victory, also heaped praise on him.

“Daniel, you’re one of a kind. A supremely quick driver and an awesome person to be around,” Brown wrote on X.

“Your win in Monza will forever be etched into McLaren’s history. It was one of my best moments of my life, and I have a tattoo to prove it!

“I know that day meant a lot to you, too.

“All the best in your next adventure, and I know you’ll crush whatever it is.”

Originally published as Daniel Ricciardo sacked: Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen react to brutal axing