Drive to Survive: Christian Horner F1 thoughts on Daniel Ricciardo after sudden Red Bull exit

Christian Horner, Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 2023, Social — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Drive to Survive

Horner thoughts on Ricciardo after sudden Red Bull exit

Christian Horner was stunned by Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull departure

Dan Ripley Global Editor

Professional F1 journalist and analyst

Tuesday 20 February 2024 09:15 Updated: 20:35

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There hasn't been too much to catch Christian Horner off guard inside the F1 paddock in nearly 20 years as Red Bull team principal.

But he was certainly stunned when news broke of Daniel Ricciardo's announcement that he would leave the team for Renault at the end of the 2018 season, after speaking to Netflix's Drive to Survive.

Article continues under video

It’s Drive to Survive release month - which means that here at GPFans, we’re taking a look back at some of the most significant storylines throughout the show’s history from the first series right through until the fifth.

Five seasons of chaos and we’re sure to get even more of it when the sixth instalment premieres on 23 February - the last day of Formula 1’s 2024 pre-season test in Bahrain.

Here is the latest article, and it goes back to one of the major highlights of the first series, where our editorial team go harking back to pivotal moments on the amazing docuseries...

Ricciardo leaves Horner stunned over Red Bull exit

One of the biggest stories that ran throughout much of the 2018 season was where Daniel Ricciardo would be driving in 2019.

The popular Australian had enjoyed many happy weekends driving for the Red Bull team but as his contract neared a conclusion at the end of the 2018 campaign he faced a major crossroads in his career.

Fearing he was starting to lose favour inside the Austrian outfit, despite the best wishes of team boss Christian Horner to keep him, he made the stunning call to join Renault for 2019.

Daniel Ricciardo (right in 2023) stunned Red Bull after leaving the team

Christian Horner believed Daniel Ricciardo was running away from a fight at Red Bull

The move shocked Red Bull, especially as they had decided to ditch using the French team's power units for the following season, adding another political blow to the move.

Horner though believed the main factor behind Ricciardo's departure though was an unwillingness to keep battling with emerging superstar Max Verstappen.

Horner told DtS: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching his development [over] the last ten years. He’s come through the ranks, he’s a member of the junior programme. As soon as he got in a Red Bull Racing car he never stopped overtaking people! Seven grands prix victories, over 20 podiums, all achieved in Red Bull Racing cars. Personally, I view him as a good friend.

“In the end, my assumption is [that] he was running from a fight. That’s the way it feels to me. Always look ahead, focus on going forwards, not backwards. Our goal is not just to beat Renault, our goal is to try and be world champions."