Daniel Ricciardo says he’d prefer to make a success of his move to Renault instead of jumping ship to a rival team when his contract expires.
[f1tv2020testa]The former Red Bull driver is in the second season of his two-year deal to drive for Renault. He has been tipped as a potential replacement for Sebastian Vettel if his former team mate leaves Ferrari at the end of the year.
However speaking during an FIA press conference he wouldn’t be drawn on whether he might change teams in 2021.
“I most importantly want this to work,” said Ricciardo. “I don’t want it to feel like I’ve just come to Renault and just got away from Red Bull and then looking for the next best thing. I really want to make this happen and make it work.
“Obviously, the step to that is getting more out of this year than we did last year and hopefully getting enough out of it that the journey continues beyond my two-year contract. That’s the ideal scenario.
“To talk about other ‘what ifs’ and future here and theres, it’s still too early. And obviously I think you you understand, you don’t want to rock the boat.”
Renault fell from fourth to fifth place in the constructors’ championship last year behind McLaren. Ricciardo expects the two teams will be closely matched again this year.
“Hopefully we’re further in front. But I think it will be expected, for sure. Our job is to try to get it back from McLaren this year. But I think you will expect at some point some battles, which should be fun.”
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Patrick (@paeschli)
26th February 2020, 14:59
He’d be a fool not to accept a drive at Red Bull next year.
RB13
26th February 2020, 15:06
Helmut Marko literally threw Sainz away due to his own pride and probably P2 in the constructors last year with him.
So highly doubtful he would extend the opportunity to a driver who turned THEM down.
Jere (@jerejj)
26th February 2020, 15:53
@paeschli Not going to happen given the tradition of only taking drivers from the B-team dating back 13 years.
joe jopling (@jop452)
26th February 2020, 19:03
Red bull have taken drivers from there B team…but now they have a serious chance of a World Championship and Constructors…so they need to pick a experienced driver…and as Max said last season..he missed Ricciardo as he pushed him(max) harder than anyone else to go quicker…and watching in testing DR last week…his body language said it all….and it wasnt “ my renault is super fast”
James (@knewman)
26th February 2020, 15:41
I hope he knows something about Renault that the rest of us don’t.
Ricciardo to Ferrari for 2021!
Jere (@jerejj)
26th February 2020, 15:54
@knewman I’d bet more towards Mercedes than Ferrari, though.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
26th February 2020, 16:14
@jerejj Mercedes has got George Russel for when Hamilton retires. As for Bottas, he’s Toto’s man and he wont go anywhere as long as he remains dependable and solid. The finn is the perfect wingman, he doesn’t make mistakes, he’s fast enough to help them win constructors and he does what he’s told without making a fuss.
Ferrari seems more likely than Mercedes or RBR to have a place for Daniel, that’s if Vettel retires next year (and I say retires because I don’t think there’s any place available for him in the top 4 teams).
James (@knewman)
26th February 2020, 17:15
I’m a huge Vettel fan but every time I see an outburst of emotion after an “own-goal” I can’t help but think that this guy is finished. Definitely agree that retirement is his next option. I don’t see him downgrading like Raikonnen just to stay in the sport.
Jere (@jerejj)
26th February 2020, 15:56
Yes, but what if an opportunity to join Mercedes were to arise. That could happen given both current-drivers are out of contract at the end of the year as well as him, although I suspect the most likely scenario is that both of them stay put.
DonSmee (@david-beau)
26th February 2020, 15:59
Ferrari or bust.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
26th February 2020, 19:51
I would love to see Daniel go to Ferrari in 2021 or back to RBR even. I think his talent is wasted at Renault.
I doubt Renault are likely to improve sufficiently to be challenging for race wins in 2021. Who knows they might strike it lucky and surprise everyone by coming up with a race winning car. It seems unlikely though.
I think Daniel should be in the hunt for a WDC or race wins at least. It’s quite a shame to see him hoping to pick up a few scraps by gaining a fifth or sixth place in a race. I realise though the choice to go to Renault was his own so he has to make the best of it.
JohnH (@johnrkh)
26th February 2020, 20:28
Ricciardo has given Renault fair warning they need to put in a real effort this year, not just keep kicking the can down the road saying we’ll do better tomorrow, tomorrow never comes.
RatSack
26th February 2020, 20:50
Agreed, every team always says they will be better tomorrow but every other team is also better so it makes no difference.
I would say this statement by Riccardo was more made to keep morale up at Renault then any Statement of his intentions for 2021.