AlphaTauri have confirmed what was widely speculated earlier this week, leaving Kiwi Liam Lawson out of their 2024 Formula One plans and re-signing their current driver pairing.
Lawson, 21, has impressed since he came into the AlphaTauri car at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and achieved the team's best result of the season, with a ninth-place finish at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend.
Despite bringing in 40 percent of their points so far this year, Lawson won't be in their car at the start of next season.
AlphaTauri - the sister outfit of the world champion Red Bull team - have confirmed Yuki Tsunoda and fan-favourite Daniel Ricciardo as their 2024 driver pairing in the build-up to this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
Newshub understands the deals to retain both Tsunoda and Ricciardo were agreed before the Kiwi stepped into the AlphaTauri car, meaning there was no seat for him in 2024 - regardless of how he performed.
Instead, Lawson will continue as Red Bull's reserve driver - a role he's had since 2022.
Tsunoda's ties to Honda - the engine supplier for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri until the end of 2025 - have ultimately played their part in securing his future, with the financial backing vital for the team.
Meanwhile, Ricciardo is arguably the most marketable driver on the Formula One grid and has been a key figure in growing the sport's popularity through Netflix's Drive to Survive series.
Ricciardo breaking his hand in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix opened the door for Lawson, who has since raced in Italy and Singapore.
Red Bull have confirmed Lawson will remain in the car, until Ricciardo is fully recovered, which will include Japan this weekend and likely the Qatar Grand Prix on October 9 (NZ time) as well.
Given the team's ruthlessness in axing drivers mid-season, pressure will be on both Tsunoda and Ricciardo - as well as Sergio Perez at Red Bull - to perform, or be replaced by Lawson during 2024.
Perez comes off contract at the end of 2024, with Ricciardo's place at AlphaTauri largely seen as an audition to return to the Red Bull senior team and partner Max Vertsappen.
Another option touted would have seen Lawson remain with Red Bull and AlphaTauri, but loaned to Williams, who are yet to finalise their 2024 drivers.
However, Newshub also understands Lawson will not drive for Williams and remains committed to Red Bull.
While currently the only driver on the grid to not score points at all in 2023, Logan Sargeant is incredibly valuable to Williams, bringing in US sponsorship, as the only American driver currently in Formula One.
If Williams are to re-sign Sargeant, that news will likely be announced at one of two upcoming American Grands Prix, with Formula One heading to Austin, Texas on October 23 and Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time on November 19.
Regardless, Lawson is still highly valued by Red Bull, evidenced by his time as reserve driver.
Newshub understands he was informed he did not have a 2024 seat before the third free practice session in Singapore. In the hours that followed, he outqualified world champion Max Verstappen, before finishing ninth a day later.
Already this year, Red Bull head of development Dr Helmut Marko has sung Lawson's praises after his displays in the Japanese Super Formula series and put his name forward to replace Nyck de Vries, before Ricciardo was ultimately chosen.
Likewise, AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost is a known admirer, while team chief executive Peter Bayer praised Lawson's efforts after Singapore.
However, while Lawson has test-driven for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri through Formula One's young driver programme, the Kiwi will not get the opportunity to do the same again.
The young driver programme guidelines state the participant can drive no more than two Grands Prix, a criteria Lawson no longer fits.
