Ricciardo quits Red Bull in feud fuelled by pay
Daniel Ricciardo is to leave Red Bull at the end of this season for Renault after his patience at being paid significantly less than his younger team-mate Max Verstappen finally snapped.
In the most dramatic move of this year’s driver market, the Australian, who had grown increasingly frustrated by his team’s favourable treatment of the Dutch star, decided to walk away from a company with whom he has spent his entire sevenyear career in Formula One.
The choice to move to Renault sprang out of left-field. Ricciardo, the most in-demand driver on the grid after hugely impressive wins in China and Monaco this season, had been linked with moves to Mercedes and Ferrari, but opted instead to join a team firmly in F1’s midfield.
Crucially, though, the 29-year-old has been assured of status as Renault’s No 1 driver, a privilege he was never likely to enjoy alongside Verstappen, nine years his junior and widely regarded as a multiple world champion of the future.
Ricciardo earns roughly 40 per cent less than Verstappen — an estimated £3.4 million ($6.6m) annually, against his junior rival’s £5.7m despite having amassed 13 more points in the championship so far.
His annoyance at the situation had grown ever more evident, as he even accused Red Bull over his in-car radio of showing preference towards Verstappen at last month’s Austrian
Grand Prix. He had tried to resolve the impasse through talks with Dietrich Mateschitz, the drinks company’s billionaire owner, but was not given the assurances that he sought.
The loss to Red Bull can hardly be overstated. Ricciardo is an extraordinary talent, as shown by a wonderful defensive drive to prevail in Monte Carlo, despite a defective gearbox, and the series of audacious overtakes that propelled him to victory in Shanghai.
Red Bull had staked much of their brand, too, on having the most vibrant and dynamic driver pairing in F1. Indeed, Ricciardo is so marketable that the sport has even trademarked the word “shoey”, in honour of his podium celebrations, where he necks champagne from his race shoe.
Commercially, his loss will be keenly felt at the team factory in Milton Keynes.
“It was probably one of the most difficult decisions to take in my career so far,” Ricciardo said. “But I thought that it was time for me to take on a fresh challenge.
“I realise that there is a lot of work ahead 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, and I know that each time they have been in the sport, they have eventually won. I hope to be able to help them in this journey and to contribute on and off track.”
His unexpected move sets up a fascinating power dynamic between Red Bull and Renault.
Only last weekend, Horner claimed on live television that Renault were supplying a substandard engine to Red
Bull, who are switching supplier to Honda from
2019. Cyril
Abiteboul,
Renault’s managing director, acidly replied: “Our bosses have stopped reading what Christian is saying about us since
2015. It’s very clear that we don’t want to have dealings with them any more.”
Ricciardo’s transfer will enable Carlos Sainz to make his anticipated jump to McLaren, where the Spaniard will take the place of the ineffectual Stoffel Vandoorne.
Horner said Red Bull “respected” Ricciardo’s decision and would “continue to evaluate the numerous options available to us” for his replacement.
It was probably one of the most difficult decisions to take in my career so far. Daniel Ricciardo