Red Bull could have put $35m-per-year deal in jeopardy after axing Aussie star Daniel Ricciardo
Liam Lawson is set to replace Daniel Ricciardo at the Visa Cash App RB team for the final six races of the Formula One season.
The team opted to part company with the much-loved Australian driver following his indifferent form on the track this season.
But it appears the Austrian Formula One outfit may be set to lose out on a chunk of money thanks to a deal that the former McLaren driver helped them broker, according to reports.
Ricciardo was officially sacked by Red Bull Racing following the Singapore Grand Prix. His best finish this season came in Canada, where he placed eighth in the race, with Ricciardo failing to finish inside the top ten in his final seven races at the team, coming 18th in Singapore.
Away from the track, Ricciardo is one of the sport’s most marketable characters, thanks to his charm, wit and entertaining driving.
Speculation has arisen in recent weeks over what his next career move will be, with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner that the team had offered him an ambassadorial role.
But it appears Ricciardo’s sacking could have a big impact on Red Bull’s revenue streams.
That’s according to News.com.au who claim that the ‘commercial value of the team could significantly drop away’ following his exit.
A report from ESPN claims that Ricciardo had helped the team land a huge $35million-per-year partnership deal with Visa and Cash App.
The outlet claims Ricciardo’s representatives, CAA Sports had helped arrange the deal.
Sources close to the outlet had also inferred that Ricciardo’s role in the team helped increase the value of the transaction.
Since his exit, Ricciardo has also been offered the chance to a stint in Supercars.
Supercars boss Shane Howard said last week that the eight-time Formula One race winner, Ricciardo, urged the Australian to consider a move to the sport.
‘If Daniel’s listening, we want you to race here,’ Howard said on Thursday, ahead of the Bathurst 1000.
‘Wouldn’t that be fantastic? To have someone of Daniel Ricciardo’s quality as a driver.
‘He’s got an enormous personality. To have him in one of our cars would be very special. We’ve got an open invite to Daniel.’
There is still, though, a chance he could return to Formula One, with Horner outlining that Red Bull Racing would like him to work for the organisation as an ambassador.
