Ricciardo’s decision to turn down Red Bull’s offer in 2018 is still a hot topic in the F1 world. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, believes that Ricciardo was “very badly advised” and made a mistake by not accepting the same terms as Max Verstappen.
The Backstory:
- In 2018, Ricciardo rejected an offer from Red Bull, choosing instead to join Renault.
- Ricciardo returned to Red Bull in the following season as a reserve driver, eventually securing a race seat with AlphaTauri.
- His decision to leave Red Bull for Renault was met with surprise and skepticism, as he was considered one of the top drivers in the sport.
- Pundits speculated that Ricciardo was scared away by Verstappen’s rise to prominence and lured to Renault by a generous two-year deal.
Go Deeper:
Ricciardo’s decision to leave Red Bull was driven by his desire for a new challenge and a belief that Renault could provide him with the opportunity to win races and championships. However, Horner believes that Ricciardo was ill-advised and made a mistake.
Horner, speaking on the Eff Won podcast, revealed that despite the personal intervention of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, Ricciardo decided to leave. Mateschitz had even offered Ricciardo a contract that matched the terms and dollar amount agreed upon by Verstappen.
However, Ricciardo’s concerns about the engine situation led him to request a one-year deal instead of the two-year deal initially offered. Despite this, Mateschitz agreed to Ricciardo’s request, stating that it was about relationships, not contracts.