The REAL reason Australian F1 star ditched Red Bull for Renault

F1 star Daniel Ricciardo may have just signed a $35million-a-year deal with Renault, but it seems it wasn’t only the money that tempted him away from his current team Red Bull.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner spoke publicly about the team’s split with Ricciardo on F1 podcast Beyond The Grid and said it was a ‘great shame’ to part ways with the Australian star.

‘He’s chosen to join the Renault team he feels are in the ascendancy. He knows the Renault product very well from all the time he’s spent with us,’ he said. 

Ricciardo is all smiles after inking a deal making him the highest paid Australian sportsman in the world (pictured with rumoured girlfriend Anne Horbass)

‘And I can’t help but feel he wants to be a leading role perhaps in a smaller environment.’  

Horner said Ricciardo would already have in-depth knowledge of how Renault works after the engine manufacturer spent ten years with Red Bull Racing. 

Another suggestion for Ricciardo’s decision was not wanting to play a support role in the team, with Dutch teammate Max Verstappen improving every week.

‘The competition between he and Max is intense. Max is growing stronger and stronger and I think that Daniel just decided that the timing is right for him to check out and try something else,’ he said.

‘Daniel said he decided after a long flight to America that he decided he wanted a change, now you look at the rational reason for that and it’s difficult to understand.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner (pictured) also spoke publicly about the team's split with Ricciardo on F1 podcast Beyond The Grid and said it was a 'great shame' to part ways with the Australian star

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner (pictured) also spoke publicly about the team’s split with Ricciardo on F1 podcast Beyond The Grid and said it was a ‘great shame’ to part ways with the Australian star

'Personally I felt it was a time now where it is good for me to move on and have a fresh start somewhere else and I think it will be healthy for me,' Ricciardo said in an Instagram post

‘Personally I felt it was a time now where it is good for me to move on and have a fresh start somewhere else and I think it will be healthy for me,’ Ricciardo said in an Instagram post

‘I think it comes back to wanting to take on a new challenge, but I also feel that he sees Max growing and growing,’ he said.

‘In terms of speed and strength and he doesn’t want to play a support role, not that they are in any way treated different.’

Horner said Red Bull racing had given Ricciardo everything he had asked for’ but it wasn’t enough to stave off his ambitions to race for another team.

‘But I think it still wasn’t enough, it wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about status, it wasn’t about position or commitment or duration,’ he said.

Horner said Ricciardo would already have in depth knowledge of how Renault works after spending ten years with Red Bull Racing

Horner said Ricciardo would already have in depth knowledge of how Renault works after spending ten years with Red Bull Racing

‘It might be an inspired choice it might be one that he regrets.’

Ricciardo took to social media to thank his fans and Red Bull for a decade of great memories and opportunities, but said he felt it was time for a new challenge. 

‘By far the toughest decision I’ve made in my racing career, but 29 years living on this earth it was actually one of the toughest life decisions I’ve made,’ he said.

‘Sad to move on, absolutely, excited for the challenge at Renault but it’s been a 10 year journey with Red Bull.’ 

Ricciardo first joined the Red Bull racing team when he entered the junior racing program in 2008 and said the decade long journey was one he would always cherish.

‘Some amazing memories from there and things that I’ll always be grateful for and I’ll never forget that ride,’ he said. 

Ricciardo will debut with Renault racing in 2019 after signing a deal worth $35million a year

Ricciardo will debut with Renault racing in 2019 after signing a deal worth $35million a year

But Ricciardo said he felt it was the right time to make the most difficult decision of his life to date. 

‘Personally I felt it was a time now where it is good for me to move on and have a fresh start somewhere else and I think it will be healthy for me,’ he said.

‘Excited for what lies ahead with Renault but I just want to thank Red Bull racing, Red Bull the company for everything they have done for me, I really appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart.’

DANIEL RICCIARDO’S CAREER TO DATE

Podiums: 29 

Points: 934 

Grand Prix Entered: 141

Races won: 7 

Highest Grid Position:  1 

 Source: www.formula1.com

‘And we’ve got nine or 10 races left to kick some a**.’    

Ricciardo will debut with Renault in 2019 after signing a deal worth $35million a year.

Renault won its first Formula 1 race in 1979 at the French Grand Prix before the team left the competition at the close of the 1985 season. 

Renault returned to the fold in 2001, with Fernando Alonso winning the drivers championship with them in 2005 and 2006.    

The team has not had a podium finish so far this season season, with a fifth-placed finish its best result.

Ricciardo told ABC News he was aware of the challenges ahead.  

‘I realise that there is a lot ahead in order to allow Renault to reach their target of competing at the highest level but I have been impressed by their progression in only two years,’ he said.

‘And I know that each time Renault has been in the sport they eventually won.’



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