Ricciardo quits Red Bull, joins Renault from next season

PARIS: Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo is joining Renault from next season after quitting Red Bull, the team said in a statement.

The French Formula One team’s announcement followed shortly after Red Bull announced that their 29-year-old grand prixwinning driver was leaving the team.

“Renault Sport Formula One team is happy to confirm the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo to join Nico Hulkenberg as a driver starting from next season,” Renault said in a statement.

Ricciardo has won two grand prix this season and stands fifth in the drivers’ championship.

Renault are one place behind Red Bull in the constructors standings, but they have only 82 points while third-place Red Bull have 223.

The French manufacturer has not won a race since rejoining Formula One three years ago.

“We fully respect Daniel’s decision to leave,” Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner said on the team web site. “We wish him all the best in his future.”

Ricciardo joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2008 and progressed through their driver development programme.

He made his Formula One debut with short-lived HRT outfit in 2011 and drove for Toro Rosso in 2012 and 2013, recording a best finish of 14th.

He switched to the flagship Red Bull team in 2013 and won seven races and recorded 29 podium finishes. He finished third in the driver standings in 2014 and 2016.

“We will now continue to evaluate the numerous options available to us before deciding on which driver partners Max Verstappen for the 2019 season,” Horner said.