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Daniel Ricciardo: Red Bull driver leaving for Renault at end of 2018 season
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Daniel Ricciardo is leaving Red Bull at the end of the season to join Renault.
In July, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the Australian, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was close to signing a new deal.
Ricciardo is fifth in the drivers' championship with two wins this season.
"It was probably one of the most difficult decisions to take in my career so far, but it was time for me to take on a fresh and new challenge," said the 29-year-old.
"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.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/45056366
It's a long shot. There's only two reasons why he would do this or why it would make sense. First Renault's power unit will see a significant upgrade to get closer to Merc/Ferrari(maybe). They are doing good on chassis development and they've consistently improved every year in that department so there's no reason to think that won't continue. Secondly, the fact that Max has been catching up and beating Ricciardo consistently when they bought have clean weekends is there. Plus Max seems to be RBR's wonderkid and Helmut Marko pretty much is in love with the kid. Lastly, money, his stock was high in the beginning of the year, but went down as he hasn't had as many good performances that stand out compared to Max. He's still a top level driver, but it hasn't been the best year for him with DNFs and other factors. Once Merc resigned their drivers and Ferrari looks like they'll be keeping Kimi or grabbing Leclerc he really didn't have too many options. I'm sure RBR over dropped down once they knew he really only had them as a top drive option. Renault might be offering him more cash since they are the one team that are in search of top drivers now and actually have the money to pay.Not sure if this will be a good move, must be something more on the backend, I understand RB has reliability issues but they have been in the top 4 in constructors points over the past 4 years came in second in CP in 2016. Renault never made it into triple digits in constructors points. Maybe Ricciardo believes he can turn Renault around like Hamilton done with Mercedes his first year after he left Mclaren.
Ferrari has got a consistent number two in Raikkonen. He's good, but he doesn't trouble Vettel and brings home points and at this point in his career is compliant with team orders. Vettel don't those 2014 memories anyway.Damn. I wanted Ricky in Red. Wonder what the deal was, because they had a negotiation deal a couple months back. It would've been a slam dunk IMO. He pushes Vettel, he's great with the media. Italians would've loved hin, he has enough experience. WTF man...

Ferrari has got a consistent number two in Raikkonen. He's good, but he doesn't trouble Vettel and brings home points and at this point in his career is compliant with team orders. Vettel don't those 2014 memories anyway.![]()
I mean in terms of a #2 driver in a top team, if you compare Kimi to Bottas, I'd say they are about level with Kimi having the edge from experience. So I get why they just stick with him. With FCA CEO recently passing away unexpectedly, I think it's a good chance Kimi will stay for another year because he was the only one putting pressure on Kimi to perform or lose his seat.. Kubica actually revealed that his was headed to Ferrari and had contract before his rally crash. I hope he gets a that Williams seat next year.I like Kimi, but how many more years you just gonna roll that ball out there??? I'm also not a big Vettel fan, I haven't been more than lukewarm on any team driver since Alonso. I actually like Ricky. But I guess they gonna ride Kimi until this Leclerc kid is ready. But I've seen this before. It was Kubica, then it was Sergio, then it was Juiles, now Lecler is the next Ferrari guy in waiting. Let's get on with it already.
I Googled the release date to show him, and he's like "That's just for Xbox..." I looked at him like WTF. What part of fucking GLOBAL multiplatform release don't you get??? But I was like ok. But from now on... Straight Amazon, ship my shit to my house on release day. This is why big box stores are losing. Wasted my fuckin break.Ferrari Rocket. It's their season to lose really.
There's tons of pics being taken throughout the weekend though. If a new button shows up on a steering wheel the technical press is on it. I think Ferrari has simply hit their stride this year. Last year, really, but Seb couldn't control himself and fucked up his season. He's trying to do it again this season with that Hungary crash, but Ferrari found some kind of new level in their PU. I don't think it's a coincidence Sauber and Haas are moving up the field along with them. When Merc had the hottest engine, you could easily see Williams and Force India beating the midfield because of their power. Like I've said, this season with be back and forth between Lewis and Seb, but at this point I think Ferrari has the overall best package.The way Lewis Hamilton walked over to check out Vettel's ride after the race and his responses about how Vettel was blowing by him on straights kind of makes me wonder. It looks like Lewis had his eyes focused on the duct areas. Their may be something going on besides normal engineering. It remains to be seen.
There's tons of pics being taken throughout the weekend though. If a new button shows up on a steering wheel the technical press is on it. I think Ferrari has simply hit their stride this year. Last year, really, but Seb couldn't control himself and fucked up his season. He's trying to do it again this season with that Hungary crash, but Ferrari found some kind of new level in their PU. I don't think it's a coincidence Sauber and Haas are moving up the field along with them. When Merc had the hottest engine, you could easily see Williams and Force India beating the midfield because of their power. Like I've said, this season with be back and forth between Lewis and Seb, but at this point I think Ferrari has the overall best package.
Yep you speak truth. I just hope its all just great competition on a level playing field. His responses just have me skeptical. He didnt seem beat but just like he was not buying the lost. Then again maybe it's the competitive edge showing.
I think it's just the disbelief that comes when youve been the one in the untouchable car for 4 years and now youre on the backfoot. I remember Seb speaking the same way when Mercedes rose to power, and even Schumi talked slick when Alonso ended his run.
Merc was literally 1 sec a lap quicker for 3 years, last year was closer but the edge was still obvious. This year Ferrari have made gains and Merc IMO rested on having the best PU and their aero, and chassis took a back seat. The Ferrari looks slightly quicker on the straights, but theyre better on their tyres, and their chassis looks easier to drive in the corners.
The headlines will read Ferrari sucks up Merc after Eau Rouge, but that was all slipstream. If Merc tries to act like that's why they're losing then theyre kidding themselves. The Force Indias sailed by Lewis in a customer Merc PU so you can't say they had tricks too. It's wasn't the power that lost Merc this race, its the areas of areas of the car that Merc have obviously not paid enough attention to in their dominance/arrogance. Even though I dont have access to the data they do, I think the slight straight line speed advantage comes from Ferrari getting cleaner corner exits and being able to get on the power earlier.





