Ricciardo: no tensions with Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo hosted the summer break of the F1 by choosing to go to Renault F1 Team from 2019. This is an important change of direction for the seven-time Grand Prix winner who has always evolved in the fold Red Bull and who seems to have needed a change of scenery after having been supported all these years with the Red Taurus.

“I think I got to the point where I felt ready for this change. I feel ready to take on a new challenge and I therefore feel new motivation”, explained Daniel Ricciardo at a press conference at Spa-Francorchamps.

Daniel Ricciardo may have been motivated by Red Bull's choice to leave the engine manufacturer Renault for Honda whose Power Unit performance is still somewhat behind the other engines in the field after the disappointment of the partnership signed with McLaren and the refuge found at Toro Rosso.

“Honda still has to prove that it can compete at the front, but there was not one key element that influenced my choice other than my desire to change the scenario. It’s not necessarily the engine or money stories that played a role”, said the 2009 British champion F3.

Daniel Ricciardo has assured his departure from Red Bull was not due to poor relations with his current team, even though the Australian is under pressure from his talented teammate Max Verstappen.

“I never said I didn't like them anymore, but I had settled into a routine of going to the same factory every year. I felt that my passion for the discipline was waning at times. To be clear, there has been no tension with anyone within the team, whether with management or otherwise”, assured the Australian.

Max Verstappen, for his part, admitted to having been surprised like most of the F1 paddock by the decision of Daniel Ricciardo who will be replaced by Pierre Gasly next year.

“It was a surprise for me to learn that Daniel was going to leave. If he wanted to change the course of his career, I'm not sure it's the best path.", commented the winner of the last Austrian GP who definitely does not seem to view the Diamond in a favorable light.