Ricciardo replacement hit with FIA PUNISHMENT

Daniel Ricciardo's Visa Cash App RB replacement has already been slammed with an FIA penalty.

Last week, VCARB announced that Ricciardo would be replaced for the final six races of the season, and potentially the 2025 season too, by young talent Liam Lawson.

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New Zealander Lawson raced with the team for five races during the 2023 season when standing in for Ricciardo after the Australian suffered a broken wrist.

However, Ricciardo was given his seat back for the 2024 season, despite Lawson's brilliance while deputising.

Ricciardo replacement hit with penalty

Ricciardo's performances throughout 2024 have been poor, with the 35-year-old often outperformed by his much-less experienced team-mate Yuki Tsunoda and struggling to capture the form that made him an eight-time grand prix winner earlier in his career.

Lawson will now be given the chance to impress in his stead, with it being reported that a seat with the main team alongside Max Verstappen is up for grabs if the 22-year-old performs.

Now, it has been revealed that his return to the F1 grid will be seriously impacted at the United States Grand Prix, with a grid penalty set to hamper his progress.

Lawson will likely be given a 10-place grid drop due to the replacement of the engine in the back of his VCARB car, as confirmed by Helmut Marko to Motorsport-Total.

"The first [race], I think, won't be relevant because he has an engine penalty. Ten places in the sprint race, so that doesn't exactly make life easier in Austin."

Lawson will still have plenty of opportunities to score points in Austin, with a sprint race and the main race offering him chances to move forward through the pack.

READ MORE: Ricciardo F1 exit CONFIRMED in official team statement

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