Would be interesting to know what happened -RB wouldn't pay him as much as Max? -He doesn't have confidence in Honda? -He wants to pull a LH at Renault? -? He'll regret this imo.
The only thing that comes to mind is maybe he feels the Honda unit won't deliver with RedBull hence the move to Renault....lateral move maybe. So no Ferrari and no Mercedes.
I don't believe this to be possible (but it is Formula One, and who would have thought in 2013 that Kimi would be back for 2014...). If Ricci is too expensive at $ 20 milllion, Alonso is half more expensive again, and 10 years older than "smilin' Dan". Not much sense, especially considering that Ferrari is not even lukewarm about the idea. Rgds
You can even have it in french, straight from the horse's mouth. Kimi must be relieved... http://www.confidential-renault.fr/Actualites/Officiel-Daniel-Ricciardo-chez-Renault-en-2019 Rgds
Not to sound like a broken record, but the RBR belief is that the car is 90% of the equation. They invest their money in the car and spend less for driving talent.
As the story goes, Daniel met Mateschitz in person after the Hungarian Grand Prix, to hear it from him about his position in the team, etc...so he has seen the boss before deciding. Rgds
Wow good luck Daniel, this is most interesting and promises an intense silly season and a very entertaining 2019. Bring it on!
Given Red Bull's treatment of Ricci, the rush to sign Max etc, Im not surprised that Daniel is leaving. Renault probably offered a better 'base' salary and some other options, plus the uncertainty of Honda PU future performance. Im thinking it was simply time to leave. He has done all he could at Red Bull. As you state Marko is at times bitter and ridiculous. Im sensing Ricci was tired of that construct in the team.
Maybe this was a 'sore' point lol - Via the BBC https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/45056366 --Team-mate Max Verstappen was given a lucrative new contract last autumn. It made the 20-year-old Dutchman the third best-paid driver in F1 behind Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, earning more than the $25m salary McLaren pay to two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. Ricciardo has finished ahead of Verstappen in both their seasons as team-mates.--
I think Verstappen is Talented and quick, but he needs to grow up. Giving him a salary like this makes him think he's worth more than he is. Ricciardo might be making the right move. Maybe Renault are prime to start competing in the next year or two. Maybe they know something we don't and so does Dan. Either way, i'll follow Dan to Renault. He's quick and fun to watch. I would've personally liked to see him at Ferrari or Mercedes fighting for the front. We see what he can do in a slower Red Bull.
Certainly, it makes things more complicated for Red Bull: they had a very strong pair of drivers, and Daniel's equation or blend of speed, dedication, ability to bring back the points, will be missed. I perfectly understand that he might have decided that it was time for a new challenge (and even more if his salary demands were not met) but it will be difficult to replace him, "like for like", no doubt. Gasly is not up to Daniel Ricciardo; neither is Sainz Jr, not yet. And Red Bull will have to raise its game, up to the challenge of a new engine. Rgds
Well said and my thoughts exactly the same. I will be keen to see him do well there. Possibly my favorite driver/personality in F1.
It would be difficult not to like him, isn't it? A nice bloke, modest and never arrogant,; and he is the real deal: bloody fast, great late-braker and overtaker, sure pair of hands, no risks to the other drivers, and brings the points at home in the end. And almost always smiling. Makes you think that the whole thing is damn easy, and that there is nothing to it. A breath of fresh air, really. I wish there were more like him. Rgds
It’ll be interesting to see if they consistently place higher next season with Ric... an indicator to the car vs. driver debate. My hunch is they’ll be right where they are now. I’m wondering how he’ll handle from winning a race here or there... getting some additional podiums to being another potentially forgotten driver in the midfield.
I am liking this driver combination at Renault--admittedly I am a big fan of both drivers. I think that they will push each other and I am interested in seeing how Hulkenberg stacks-up against Ricciardo. I hope that Renault will deliver a car that can compete for podium finishes. Let's be honest, with RBR moving to Honda power their place in the F1 hierarchy is anything but assured.
This will be good for Ric. He will not play second to Max and that’s exactly what RB would continue to force upon him. Good for Ric.