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Crimson Bull workforce boss Christian Horner believes Daniel Ricciardo’s resolution to modify to Renault subsequent yr was partly influenced by the rising power of present teammate Max Verstappen.
Ricciardo introduced final week that he would go away Crimson Bull and drive for Renault subsequent yr after signing a two-year contract with the French producer. By way of outright competitiveness, the transfer represents a step backwards for Ricciardo, with Renault unlikely to get rid of the numerous hole in efficiency to Crimson Bull within the short-term.
Nevertheless, Ricciardo mentioned he wished “a contemporary and new problem” subsequent yr, and emphasised the spectacular report of Renualt in F1 over the historical past of the game. But Horner suspects that the prospect of going up towards present teammate Verstappen as he turns into a stronger driver additionally performed an element.
“Daniel mentioned he determined after an extended flight to America that he wished a change,” Horner advised F1’s official podcast Past the Grid. “In the event you have a look at the rational causes for that, it is obscure however Daniel clearly had his causes.
“I believe it got here all the way down to eager to tackle, in his phrases, ‘a brand new problem’ however I additionally assume that he sees Max rising and rising when it comes to pace and power and he would not wish to play a assist function — for need of a greater phrase as a result of it isn’t that they’re handled in any method completely different.
“[They would have been guaranteed] absolute equal standing as they’ve all the time had [at Red Bull], however I can not assist however really feel that was a big a part of Daniel’s resolution making. I may perceive if it was to Ferrari or Mercedes, nevertheless it’s an unlimited danger at this stage of his profession.”
Horner revealed that Ricciardo solely let him know in regards to the resolution the day earlier than it was introduced and mentioned he first thought his driver was winding him up. Nevertheless, he admitted that the indicators had been there throughout their very own negotiations with Ricciardo and that the Australian had been reluctant to decide to Crimson Bull.
“I’ve to confess, it has been a bit like making an attempt to persuade a woman to exit with you who’s being fairly reticent,” he mentioned. “I suppose if you have a look at it it is felt like that.
“Daniel’s had conversations with Dietrich, with myself, with Helmut and we now have bent over backwards to make it occur, but when your coronary heart isn’t actually in it then … it is simply felt like that.
“On the finish of the day, we now have given Daniel every little thing that he ever wished and it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient in his thoughts to say ‘I wish to maintain going at Crimson Bull’. So it wasn’t about cash, it wasn’t about standing, it wasn’t about place or dedication or length, I believe he felt that he wanted to take one thing else on at this stage in his profession.
“It is likely to be an impressed alternative, it is likely to be one which he regrets.”
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