The Aussie driver has joined a host of Formula 1 stars in boycotting their Instagram accounts after years of being the targets of social media trolling and abuse.

The McLaren star confirmed his decision to step away from social media ahead of this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

Posting a message on Instagram, Ricciardo told his followers he won’t be posting anything during the four day event.

“I’ll be going offline for the next few days to stand with others against online abuse,” he wrote.

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“Any form of abuse id not ok and those that share or allow hate should be held accountable. I want to encourage a positive change in behaviour and urge people to think before the act.

“If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.”

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Fellow drivers Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, Valtteri Bottas, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Nikita Mazepin have also announced they are stepping away from social media.

Sporting leagues and athletes from all over the world have joined the movement in shutting down social media accounts.

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Hamilton, said his decision was motivated by years of racial abuse online.

The Mercedes world champion is the only Black driver in Formula 1.

“To stand in solidarity with the football community, I will be going dark on my social media channels this weekend. There is no place in our society for any kind of abuse, online or not, and for too long it’s been easy for a small few to post hate from behind their screens,” he posted.

“While a boycott might not solve this issue overnight, we have to call for change when needed, even when it seems like an almost impossible task.

“Sport has the power to unite us. Let’s not accept abuse as part of the sport, but instead, let’s be the ones who make a difference for future generations.”

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Hamilton said earlier part of the movement is to put pressure on social media giants Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to clamp down on the abuse.

“I was subject to abuse a long, long time ago, at a time when I was younger, when I was reading social media, reading like many people do, trying to engage with people.

“But there was a period of time where I had to understand that firstly you can’t read every comment that’s on there, and you can’t take it personally.

“If you let those things get to you, then they can ruin your day.

“But I do believe that social media companies need to do more.

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“There’s algorithms, there’s things they’re able to see, they’re able to take steps to help and create more of an anti-racist society. That’s what we’ve got to be pushing towards.”

Hamilton and Ricciardo last year also supported the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee on the starting grid during the Austrian Grand Prix.

“The chat with the drivers [n Friday] was essentially saying all of us are 100 per cent on board with supporting it and ending racism,” Ricciardo said.

“None of us are anti this, so we all support this.

“I just think there was a little bit of difficulty with some drivers and their nationality, and what something like taking a knee would represent.

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“Obviously the reasons why we would do it is purely to support Black Lives Matter.”