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Daniel Ricciardo will leave Red Bull at the end of the current Formula 1 season and will take up a seat at Renault for 2019. Ricciardo joined Red Bull in 2014 and has taken seven Grand Prix wins so far in his five and a half year stint with the energy drink team.
The 29-year-old is expected to partner Nico Hulkenberg at the French squad, who is tied to a multi-year deal. This could allow Carlos Sainz to join Red Bull, as he is still a part of the Austrian team, despite being loaned to Renault for the 2018 season.
Ricciardo has been linked with a move away from Red Bull for a long time as his contract expires at the end of the current season. Some sources say that Ricciardo decided not to sign a contract extension after Red Bull decided it would run with Honda power in 2019.
However, it is also suggested that Ricciardo has been left disgruntled after Red Bull has made Verstappen its de facto No. 1 driver with a vastly improved contract deal last year, which ties the 20-year-old to the team until the end of the 2020 season.
Who will replace Ricciardo?
There is a question mark over who will come in at Red Bull next, however it is believed that it will either be Carlos Sainz or Pierre Gasly. Both men are Red Bull junior drivers, but some sources indicate that Sainz is on his way to join McLaren next year.
Should Sainz join Red Bull, he would be reunited with Verstappen. The pair partnered each other during the 2015 season at Toro Rosso, but the relationship wasn't always smooth between the two.
Gasly has scored 26 of Toro Rosso's 28 points this year, with Franz Tost labelling the Frenchman a "mature driver" after his impressive display last weekend in Hungary. Having worked with Honda in 2018, Red Bull could call on the 22-year-old to step up into the senior team.
Fergal Walsh
Wow. Well kept secret. I don't even remember speculation about this. Certainly Daniel didn't believe in the Honda-RB partnership. Renault have been making gains each season, albeit very slowly. I'm sure he wasn't cheap, so I think it shows some commitment from Renault to finally bring a superstar to the team. Finally, it will be another benchmark for highly rated Hulkenberg.
I heard of these rumours ever since March or so, but it wasnt until now that I began to really consider it realistic. I mean, even if Honda wouldnt improve all that much, RB will likely still be a force to be reckoned with. The difference in level and commitment between RB and Renault is that big. But if he comes in, thinking Hulk doesnt want a second driver, he is probably set for disappointment. It'll just be Ric vs Ver all over. But as you say, I love this chance to see Hulk getting pitted against whats considered to be one of the current best.
- if you can't match the race pace of your teammate.
- if you can't manage the tyres like your teammate.
- if you are unable to make positions right after the start (like your teammate).
- if you get beaten every Saturday...
Than your only option is to run and accept less money in a slower car with a weaker teammate. What a coward...
This guy was toxic for the team. He fooled many people with his smile, but accumulated anger against Max. This wasn't crucial this year, but it could backfire when it counts. It is better for the team if he leaves.
I somewhat agree with you. Not sure if he really was that toxic. What's interesting is that Sainz isn't being called up by the main team. Good luck to him hope he got a good pay off.
Verstappen has gotten the measure of him. It makes sense for him to change. However Renault would not have been his first choice which means that he couldn't get into either merc or Ferrari.
We know why He never got to ferrari, no way vet wanted to be shown up again,lol
Hammy, had the same feeling as vet. And botas cheaper for merc so sealed that one.
MM maclowns, no chance rather be working in Macdonalds, leaves Renault.
Is it a bad choice, no not really. renault will be gunning to prove Red bull mistake over engines ;p shame for Sainz
Think by the end of season we will have Norristo torro, part deal to release someone to Maclaren ;p Sianz to Maclaren with Alonso for 1 season.
Vandorme will be the one lose for this
Points... They don't tell the full story, otherwise we wouldn't need to waste our time and watch races anymore.
I rate Ricciardo very highly as a driver. In my opinion he is stronger than Vettel and Hamilton. His only problem is Max, who is on another level. Daniel realized it and took the escape route. He knew that as soon as Red Bull removes the Renault reliability problem, it will be game over for him.
Max would smash him in every aspect. How can a driver respond to that? Only by overdriving the car, which would result in many accidents and errors.
I also don't like how he is portrayed as the "victim" of Red Bull and the "evil" Dr. Marko. People spin it as if he was treated like a number 2 driver and wish he would go to Ferrari or Mercedes, teams that have a clear number 1 and number 2 policy. How crazy is that?
Red Bull gave him a chance to enter F1 and compete in a top team. They allowed him to race and even beat their golden boy (Vettel). Now with a strong teammate he realized that he "needs a change"? Right...
Good luck Daniel!
@F1 now tell us how you really feel lol. While I do think that Max had the measure of Daniel on normal conditions, your view that Daniel was toxic, or that he couldn't keep up, or that he was a coward is not founded in facts. I agree he gets beaten a lot of Saturday though. But in general Daniel is not only well like at RB, but also across the paddock. Also, no, on average Max is still not as reliable as Daniel. I think he will surpass him eventually, but Max has plenty to accomplish before he can be compared to Daniel.
@F1_IS_DEAD, it's not crazy at all, the reason I'd liked to have seen him go to Ferrari is that even as a number two driver at Ferrari he'd have had a better chance of outperforming Vettel in a much better car than he would have had outperforming Verstappen at Red Bull who is clearly favoured by the team and Marko..... you said it yourself, Ricciardo is stronger than Hamilton and Vettel, but maybe not as strong as Verstappen, but he isn't far off him.
It is completely logical that he would make a move from being a number two driver at Red Bull to likely having negotiated a number one position with the Renault factory team. Being a number two at Red Bull with a Honda engine would have been his worst option. He really had no other choice but to leave Red Bull.
However, I honestly believe that a number two at Ferrari against Vettel, or - with a longer term view - a number 1 drive at Alfa Romeo or HASS, would all have been better ‘career’ options than a number one drive at Renault
I think its a huge shame that neither Mercedes nor Ferrari signed him, they'd rather keep their paid lackeys and keep their goldenboy #1 drivers happy. Shame!!
I agree, it's a damn shame....... he'll never be in a position to win a drivers championship with Renault. Surely he could have got a drive with HAAS or Sauber/Alfa Romeo...... I just can't help but think that putting his foot in the door with a Ferrari linked team would have put him in a much better position to eventually secure a factory seat and challenge for a championship title with Ferrari.
I am sort of against the general opinion here. Choosing to join the 3rd best factory team is actually a really good choice. At least there he will in the right place for an continuing run in points or podiums if they improve. Haas/Sauber and McLaren would have been stepping stones to nowhere. Very logical and rational choice. Good luck to him.
Not agree, it is a step down but hey a step up financial for him
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I think its a huge shame that neither Mercedes nor Ferrari signed him, they'd rather keep their paid lackeys and keep their goldenboy #1 drivers happy. Shame!!