RICCIARDO SHOCK!
AUSSIE SWITCHES TO RENAULT
As if Force India’s plight was not enough to give the F1 driver market a kick in the backside, Daniel Ricciardo’s shock announcement that he will move to Renault for the 2019 Formula 1 season certainly did.
Red Bull was taken by surprise as the 29-yearold Australian – who had been expected to stay at the team alongside Max Verstappen – told it he would leave, 10 years after becoming a Red Bull junior.
“[It’s] by far the toughest decision I’ve made in my racing career – but 29 years living on this Earth, it was actually one of the toughest life decisions I’ve made,” said Ricciardo during a social media message. “I was on the junior programme in 2008, [I have] some amazing memories from there, things that I’ll always be grateful for and I’ll never forget that ride.
“Personally I felt it was a time now where it was good for me to move on and have a fresh start somewhere else. I think it will be healthy for me.”
Red Bull has thanked Ricciardo for his service, and now faces a vacuum as a regular threat for grand prix wins exits the team. It has two obvious options in Pierre Gasly, who is impressing in the Red Bull feeder team Toro Rosso this year, taking a notable fourth in Bahrain.
The other option is Carlos Sainz, who delivered at Toro Rosso and has since been on loan from Red Bull to Renault from mid-way through last season. Part of the deal is that Red Bull can bring back Sainz if it wants to put him in the F1 car.
Gasly is believed to be the most likely option to replace Ricciardo.