Daniel Ricciardo rocked the Formula One world by announcing that he would be making the switch Renault in 2019. The news came as a shocked since it was expected that the Australian, who was signed with Red Bull back in 2014, would be signing a new deal with Red Bull over the summer break.
Ricciardo first joined Red Bull’s junior team back in 2011 as a test driver before taking a seat on HRT midway through the season. He was asked to join Toro Rosso for the following season full time. He was then called up to Red Bull in 2014 to take Mark Webber’s vacant seat alongside World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Ricciardo said in a statement that leaving Red Bull was a tough decision, but he is looking forward to the new journey with Renault:
“It was probably one of the most difficult decisions to take in my career so far. But I thought that it was time for me to take on a fresh and new challenge. I realize that there is a lot ahead in order to allow Renault to reach their target of competing at the highest level but I have been impressed by their progression in only two years, and I know that each time Renault has been in the sport they eventually won. I hope to be able to help them in this journey and contribute on and off track.”
Ricciardo will be bumping out Carlos Sainz, who may be returning to Red Bull, but this time on the main team. However, the Spaniard has also been linked to a seat at McLaren alongside Fernando Alonso to make a full Spanish driver lineup. Nico Hülkenberg is currently under contract for the 2019 season with Renault, as was confirmed by the team.
Red Bull have not officially announced who will be replacing Ricciardo alongside Max Verstappen for the 2019 season, although the move does change the driver market dramatically.
