Ricciardo: Red Bull a bigger risk than Renault

Daniel Ricciardo says it would have been a greater risk to remain at Red Bull, than to switch to Renault. The Australian also dismissed the notion that he opted to move due to the reportedly high salary on offer with the French squad.

The decision to move stunned F1, and especially Red Bull, who had already recorded a video with Ricciardo to announce that he would remain.

Red Bull's results have tailed off somewhat to start the season, with Max Verstappen taking two podiums in the first seven races and Pierre Gasly struggling.

Renault themselves have not quite met expectations, owing to reliability concerns, but a first double points score of 2019 was secured in Canada, while Ricciardo has gone on a run of Q3 appearances in recent races.

And Ricciardo still harbours hope that his dramatic switch will work out closer to that of Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes in 2013.

"It was the biggest thing I have done, even bigger than the move to Europe [as a teenager]," he told the Guardian.

"I didn't feel there was much room to build with Red Bull any more. I thought there was more risk staying.

"Renault excited me. What Lewis did with Mercedes, if I was able to do that – that was instant motivation for me.

"One thing I really didn't want was for people to say I just signed for Renault to chase a pay cheque.

"That wasn't the truth. I feel I have an obligation to make it work."