Ricciardo F1 axe leaves two drivers standing at US GP

Daniel Ricciardo's absence at this weekend's United States Grand Prix has changed a significant fact about the race. 

The Australian driver has been replaced at RB by Liam Lawson for the remainder of the F1 season, following an underwhelming 18 races.

Ricciardo is often a fan favourite at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), with this weekend marking the first race in Austin, Texas that he has missed. 

As a result, just two drivers on the F1 grid will have taken part in every US GP to be held at COTA, following the 19th round of the season on Sunday. 

Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez are the only other drivers to have raced in all 11, a number which will become 12, moving them clear of Ricciardo. 

The US GP has been held at COTA every season since 2012, with the exception of 2020 when the race was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Hamilton is the most successful driver at the American venue, having won the US GP at COTA on five occasions – 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

In total, the seven-time world champion has won the US GP six times, the first of which was back in 2007 at Indianapolis.