Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner believes they did everything they could to retain Daniel Ricciardo
The Red Bull team of Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were impressive this season and if not for the Aussie’s eight retirements, could have pushed for higher in the constructor and driver’s championships.
Red Bull switched from Renault engines to Honda for the 2019 season and it seems that the ongoing problems with Ricciardo’s car could’ve been a big reason for Ricciardo’s departure.
Ricciardo and Red Bull were deep into negotiations and expected to come to a deal but the Aussie changed his mind, signing with Renault.
“We looked at it and I think we did everything that we possibly could to retain him,” Horner told Motorsport.com.
“He actually said this – he did the classic breakup [line] – it not you, it’s me. And I think he just genuinely wanted to take on a new challenge.
“I think he was also probably concerned about his value with the evolution of Max [Verstappen], and was probably uncertain about Honda at that time. Subsequently he’s seen what we were talking about start to come to fruition.
“You always have a Plan B. I think once we understood that he was serious, that that was his mindset, it was a very easy decision to come to regarding Pierre Gasly.”
Red Bull were third on the constructor championship rankings as Verstappen finished fourth and Ricciardo finished sixth this season.
Following Ricciardo’s final race, Horner reiterated his sadness at Ricciardo’s departure, calling the Ricciardo-Verstappen pairing one of, if not the best on the grid.
“He’s been great,” Horner said. “We’ve seen him grow from when he first arrived in Europe as a 16-year-old, and his progression through the junior team, through Toro Rosso, into Red Bull Racing, 100 races with us, seven victories.
“He’s such a big character as well. We’ll miss him, we wish him all the very best for the future but it’s been a blast having him in the team.”
Ricciardo and Verstappen had been the Red Bull team for three years but a power shift appeared to be swinging Ricciardo into the second driver of the team, despite both winning two races this year.
However, Horner insisted Red Bull’s number one driver was worked out on the track.
“The number one driver in this team is the driver who is ahead on the track,” he told Motorsport.com. “That’s the simple rule.
“And there is zero favouritism in the way that we operate the team, from one driver to the other. Daniel will tell you that very openly.
“Mexico was the first time that Daniel out qualified Max since Monaco. Max’s qualifying performances have been huge, and that was probably part of Daniel’s decision taking for the future.”
Renault have already been talking a big game saying there was no reason Ricciardo can’t be challenging for podiums next year.
Ricciardo’s new teammate at Renault Nico Hulkenberg said he was looking forward to the challenge of competing with the Aussie.
“I was devastated,” he joked. “I was on the floor, I was crying – it really hit me hard.
“No, I was okay with it. I got a phone call the day before, it was good news.
“Bring it on – we all cooking with water. I’m not scared of anyone.
“Probably it will be very challenging and I might have to find another gear, but let’s see what happens.”
Watch the controversial crash between Ricciardo and Verstappen
