F1 Star Daniel Ricciardo’s Shocking Career Move Makes US Olympic Gold Medallist Emotional

“I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey,” wrote fan favorite driver Daniel Ricciardo. After a week of rumors, Red Bull axed the 35-year-old from the  VCARB team. Despite the rumors, the decision hit the F1 community hard, and the Aussie’s farewell post only added to the gloom. Unsurprisingly, Olympic legend Lindsey Vonn chimed in.

As the third most decorated female alpine skier, Vonn adores everything that goes fast. Accustomed to hitting over 90 mph without an engine behind her back, only F1 could satiate the speed demon’s appetite. The 39-year-old social media after learning of Ricciardo’s departure suggested she was among the many who adored the former VCARB member.

Lindsey Vonn shared the F1 driver’s post on her Instagram story and spoke for the entire F1 community. “It was an amazing journey, and we all loved watching you. Thanks for everything, Dani,” the four-time Alpine Skiing World Cup winner. However, it seems the athlete who found a way to move on to new ventures after skiing didn’t want to bid Ricciardo a sad farewell.

“We will miss you!! But many more roads ahead!” the Angel City FC investor commented on F1’s official goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo on X. Unfortunately, RB dropped the Australian Formula One driver without a farewell race. The veteran racer’s last star for VCARB was at the Singapore Grand Prix, which now becomes his 257th and final start for the 2024 season.

However, going by the Perth native’s post, and those from the likes of Lindsey Vonn, it seems the Singapore Grand Prix was the final race of his racing career. The 35-year-old’s somewhat unceremonious farewell came after he struggled to match teammate Yuki Tsunoda throughout the season. The driver struggled to convert his fan-favorite status into results on the track.

What’s more? RB has already announced that Daniel Ricciardo’s now-former teammate Liam Lawson will replace the veteran for the rest of the season. Now the 22-year-old from New Zealand will transition into the full-time role with Yuki Tsunoda as partner. While the future remains uncertain, maybe Lindsey Vonn can show Ricciardo the way forward.

Lindsey Vonn’s Red Bull connection

As one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history, Lindsey Vonn forged a powerful partnership with Red Bull during her career. However, a series of injuries and surgeries forced her to step away from skiing as her legendary career neared its end. But during that challenging time, the Olympic gold medalist found a new passion: Formula One. In 2017, Vonn took the wheel of a Formula car for the very first time, and her love for speed on the track was born.

Though Vonn initially drove a Formula Renault 2.0, which tops out at 140 mph, and later a 3.5 model with a 180 mph cap, it was only the beginning. The first woman ever to ski down the infamous Streif course in Austria, Vonn’s hunger for adrenaline transferred seamlessly from the slopes to the track. Since then, she’s become more vocal about her love for racing, and her longstanding relationship with Red Bull has opened new doors. Earlier this year, Vonn was given the chance to drive an F4 car ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, taking her motorsport journey to the next level.

“So awesome to get behind the wheel of an F4 car with my @redbullusa family,” Vonn shared on social media, brimming with excitement. While the Olympic champion has explored various new ventures post-retirement, her passion for Formula One remains a constant.

With drivers like Daniel Ricciardo navigating his challenges, fans can only wonder if Vonn’s story could inspire others in the world of motorsport. What do you think the future holds for this fan-favorite racer? Is this end for him or the start of a new beginning? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!