Ricciardo wary of Honda switch, despite Renault going 'to sh*t'

Daniel Ricciardo hopes that Red Bull's decision to take Honda power units in 2019 is not just because their relationship with Renault has "gone to shit". The Australian is expected to sign a new contract with Red Bull, but their power unit gamble has made the decision an agonising one.

Ricciardo has recently spoken of is surprise that serious interest from Mercedes and Ferrari did not emerge as he entered the final year of his Red Bull deal.

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A big-money offer from McLaren is unlikely to deliver the race-winning car that Ricciardo has desired, although a Honda-powered Red Bull might be similarly out of the picture.

Team principal Christian Horner believes that Honda have greater potential than Renault, who have failed to keep pace with Mercedes and Ferrari engines in the V6 hybrid era, and Ricciardo hopes the decision has been made for the right reasons.

Asked if he was convinced by the Honda power unit, Ricciardo said: "I think probably until I was to drive a Honda I wouldn't know.

"I've obviously heard the team out more than once and they've given me the reasons.

"The important thing to understand for me why they've done it, it can't just be purely on emotions. Like, 'It's gone to shit with Renault, whatever, and we're doing it because we want to change'.

"They've obviously done their homework and they strongly believe that it is a good thing, not just on an emotional decision.

"They've done what they can to try and encourage me to make it happen."