Ricciardo to pocket an estimated $35m per year with Renault

  • Published on 06 Aug 2018 11:57
  • 11
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Daniel Ricciardo will reportedly take home an estimated $35 million per year as part of his new deal with Renault. On Friday, the shock announcement was made that Ricciardo would be leaving Red Bull before confirmation soon arrived that he would be joining Renault.

Ricciardo has spent five years with Red Bull, and has been part of its driver programme since 2008. However, next year he will leave it all behind when he leaves for Enstone to partner Nico Hulkenberg at the resurging Renault squad.

The 29-year-old was heavily expected to stay on with the energy drink team, with an agreement reportedly being struck between the seven-time Grand Prix winner and Red Bull owner Dieter Mateschitz before the Austrian Grand Prix.

Ricciardo's new deal puts him in the top roster of F1's highest paid drivers, joining the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. Speaking of his new arrangement after the announcement, Ricciardo said it was a very difficult decision.

"It was probably one of the most difficult decisions to take in my career so far, but I thought that it was time for me to take on a fresh and new challenge,” admitted Ricciardo.

"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.” I know that each time Renault has been in the sport they eventually won. I hope to be able to help them in this journey and contribute on and off track.

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (11)

Login to reply
  • Here is how I see it.
    Riccardo knew that after two more years of beating alongside Verstappen, his career would be over. He wanted out and made a ridiculous offer to Red Bull, knowing that they will never pay it. He then played both teams against each other and took what Renault offered him.
    $35m? Not in a million years. I would be very surprised if Renault will pay him more than $10m.

    The question remains, who makes the supposed salary speculations public, only a few days later? It's probably the man himself, to lever his low value and set up a bar for his next employee, after his contract with Renault ends.

    Not only is he doing this, no he also calls his fellowman journos (like Matt Clayton) and tells them stories about his bosses at Red Bull. Just Google "an unusual chat with daniel-ricciardo".

    I don't know how Ferrari and Mercedes view things like this, but if Ricciardo thinks, a behavior like this will help him get a seat at one of the top teams, than maybe he should take a good look at another toxic driver from Spain.

    If he is badmouthing his current employee behind their backs (and God knows what else he is telling) while still under a valid contract, one has to ask the question: Will he drive for Red Bull after the summer break, or will he sabotage the team?

    Maybe it would be best for Red Bull to end up the season with someone else.

    • + 2
    • Aug 6 2018 - 13:40
    • Danny Ric has proved himself to be a much better and more consistent drive than Crash Verstappen, or is it Max Maldonado? You can't win or beat your teammate if you don't bring the car home. The times he did, he did ok but he only has about a 30% finish rate so far this season with the same equipment Ricciardo is getting. He over drives his car to the point of breaking it and then when it is an actual mechanical problem not caused by him he gets on the radio and cusses out his team. Just watch on you tube his untelevised radio broadcasts from the Hungarian GP. What a brat! Danny Ric is smart to get out of a team that has a history of being corporate tyrants pampering immature children.

      • + 0
      • Aug 6 2018 - 21:34
    • Hombibi

      Posts: 137

      @ Ram Samantha, why on earth you turn a reaction on Ricardo’s move into a childish rant on Verstappen is beyond me. I hope you don’t believe you are really making an argument calling people names. But what’s more, it is utterly pointless, you complain about a guy that is filling up complete racetracks grandstands on multiple tracks as no other driver does. You are not going to make a difference with your vile opinion. Why not try to contribute something constructive.

      • + 1
      • Aug 6 2018 - 22:03
    • Original poster says Danny Ric taking a beating for two years from Ver.

      • + 0
      • Aug 7 2018 - 19:20
    • Anyone questioning Danny Ric's value and credentials either hasn't been watching or holds an extreme bias against him. Ricciardo is a bona-fide super star in F1. Period. Up there with Sebastián, Lewis, and Fernando.

      • + 0
      • Aug 8 2018 - 04:15
  • F1- : I absolutely agree with you and that he himself brought this in the media just like he did with the very "serious negotiations"with Ferrari while later on he confessed to be very disappointed by Ferrari not have shown more interest in him.

    This story is even more doubtful when you compare it with te salary Nico receives at Renault.

    • + 0
    • Aug 6 2018 - 14:18
    • Hombibi

      Posts: 137

      I assume dr has a manager with whom he strategised the whole process, but would he really be so thick as to burn ships and damage relations behind him? Even though it looks like that, it does not make any sense. And I don’t believe he was born yesterday. I think we are missing something here.

      • + 0
      • Aug 6 2018 - 22:10
  • k.gandhiin

    Posts: 17

    I heard that at one point he was one of the lowest paid GP winner driver on the grid. He ditched Red Bull at the right time, we all know how Ditier is with regards to his drivers. Good decision by Daniel. But 35 $ million per year looks fake number. May be for 2 years.

    • + 1
    • Aug 6 2018 - 20:18
  • Renault gets a double bonus with Daniel. They get a great driver and a good marketing opp as the driver who wanted to stick with Renault and not switch to a Honda. The French will eat that up.

    • + 0
    • Aug 6 2018 - 21:25
    • boudy

      Posts: 1,168

      Great for him to get an top 4 drive. Spinning headlines won't change the fact that Renault has been very unreliable too long. Hope he does well If that amount of $$$ is anywhere near the real amount he hasn't done too badly.

      • + 1
      • Aug 7 2018 - 10:19
  • Good for him, he deserves every penny. Let's just hope Renault give him the tools to fight.

    • + 0
    • Aug 8 2018 - 04:16

Related news