Where every mid-season axed Red Bull driver is now from joining army to quitting sport

Just because you have a Formula 1 driver contract, you should never assume your place on the grid is safe.

That’s particularly true if you happen to be employed by either of the -owned teams. experienced this first-hand last month when it was confirmed that he had lost his place at sister team , replaced by Liam Lawson for the final six rounds of the 2024 season.

have more than enough cash going spare to not have to worry about paying off a driver’s contract if they feel someone else can get better results. should bear that in mind, given he has narrowly escaped the chop once already this term.

And Ricciardo’s story isn’t the only cautionary tale warning the Mexican of what are willing to do if you aren’t getting the results expected of you. Over the last two decades, plenty of drivers have been demoted from the main team mid-season, or given the boot altogether.

Nyck de Vries – Sacked from AlphaTauri in 2023

‘Quick Nyck’, unfortunately, didn’t live up to his nickname during his short-lived stint as an F1 driver. The Dutchman, a Formula 2 and Formula E champion, had teams clamouring for his signature after a stellar F1 debut with Williams, where he scored points at Monza while was sidelined due to appendicitis.

emerged victorious in the race for his signature, pairing De Vries with in their junior outfit, then known as AlphaTauri.

However, he was shown the door just 10 races into the 2023 season and replaced by Ricciardo, having failed to secure a single point. Now aged 29, he divides his time between racing in the World Endurance Championship with the successful Toyota Gazoo Racing team, and returning to Formula E with Mahindra Racing who are, frankly, not very good.

In August, he journeyed to Japan to make his Super Formula series debut and will be back next weekend to compete at the renowned Fuji Speedway.

– Demoted from Racing in 2019

The only driver on this list still on the grid, Gasly was elevated to the premier team quite early in his F1 career – possibly before he was fully prepared. After just one full season in the sport, he was placed alongside , but the Frenchman crumbled under the pressure and was relegated back to Toro Rosso after a mere 12 races.

Albon went in the opposite direction, but he too was let go just 18 months later, at the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Gasly rediscovered his form at the junior team, delivering some standout performances – most notably a memorable win at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. However, this wasn’t enough to secure a second stint with the leading team and he was repeatedly passed over for promotion.

Consequently, at the close of 2022, he chose to leave and join Alpine, where he continues to race today alongside . He is set to become the team leader next season when he partners with newcomer Jack Doohan.

Daniil Kvyat – Demoted from Racing in 2016, Sacked from Toro Rosso in 2017

Another individual familiar with the sting of demotion from the premier team is Kvyat. The Russian driver made his F1 debut in 2014 with Toro Rosso, stepping in for Ricciardo who had just been promoted, and performed well enough to partner the Australian the following year when Sebastian Vettel departed for .

When he secured his first F1 podium that year, he became the second youngest ever to do so at the time, trailing only the German.

Despite outscoring Ricciardo that year, he found 2016 more challenging and, with rising star Verstappen vying for promotion, Kvyat was relegated to Toro Rosso after his home race in Sochi. A year later, he was completely dropped in favour of Gasly and, despite making a one-off appearance later in the season, was passed over in favour of Brendon Hartley.

Currently, he competes in WEC and also in the American NASCAR Xfinity Series. He has a daughter with Kelly Piquet, who is now romantically involved with Verstappen.

Sebastien Bourdais – Sacked from Toro Rosso in 2009

Sebastien Bourdais, who was dismissed from Toro Rosso in 2009, has a history of racing in the States, albeit more successfully. Prior to his F1 opportunity, the French racer clinched four consecutive titles in the now obsolete Champ Car series.

After several trials with Toro Rosso, he secured a spot alongside Vettel for the 2008 season. However, despite a strong start, he failed to consistently score points like his younger teammate.

His second season didn’t fare any better and, in July 2009, he was let go and received around $2.1million after suing for contract breach. Bourdais later returned to the USA and triumphed in six IndyCar races.

However, as a native of Le Mans, it’s apt that most of his success has been in endurance racing. In addition to victories at renowned races in Daytona and Sebring, the Frenchman has frequently competed in his hometown, finishing second three times, including one class victory in 2016.

This year, he has participated in the IMSA championship SportsCars with Cadillac.

Scott Speed – Sacked from Toro Rosso in 2007

Scott Speed, who was also sacked from Toro Rosso in 2007, is an American with perhaps the most fitting name for any motor racer, but he didn’t live up to it in F1. Identified through the Driver Search programme, the Californian battled ulcerative colitis to ascend through the junior ranks and secured a spot on the 2006 F1 grid as one of the first two drivers for the newly-formed Toro Rosso team, which had taken over Minardi following the group’s acquisition.

Speed’s tumultuous F1 journey comprised 28 races without scoring a point, and his most striking episode unfolded when he brashly instructed David Coulthard of the top-tier team to “f*** off” during a contentious post-Australian Grand Prix stewards’ assembly. Cut from the squad midway through the 2007 season, Speed retained backing; he triumphed thrice in the Global RallyCross Championship and clinched three X Games golds.

His ventures stretched to NASCAR and Formula E, but since 2021 he retreated from top-tier racing.

In the world of Christian Klien – axed by Racing in the year 2006.

Christian Klien – Sacked from Racing in 2006

One of Racing’s initiates, Klien was embroiled in an atypical-sharing agreement with colleague Vitantonio Liuzzi; theoretically swapping seats every quartet of races in 2005. But this plan stumbled, Liuzzi only claimed four starts, leaving Klien as Coulthard’s principal partner.

Klien clung on until 2006, almost reaching season’s end before his abrupt exit with a trio of races yet to run. Robert Doornbos stepped in, preceding Mark Webbers 2007 arrival.

Post-F1 life saw Klien embrace roles as a test and reserve driver for Honda, then BMW Sauber, eventually joining HRT in 2010, initially in reserve before stepping up for three race stints. Not one to shy away from endurance, the Austrian frequently contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though latterly gravitating towards GT contests.

A noteworthy shift came in 2017 when he joined the ranks of the Austrian Armed Forces, sparking attention back home.