Red Bull routine left Ricciardo 'numb'

Daniel Ricciardo says he sought a departure from Red Bull after feeling "numb" due to the routine of racing for the team for many years. Ricciardo has confirmed he will race for Renault in 2019, bringing a decade in the Red Bull stable to a close in the process.

Reports around Ricciardo's decision suggested that the Australian had left Red Bull over concerns about his standing in the team to Max Verstappen, but Ricciardo said he had no fears over the "equality" in the team.

When it was put to Ricciardo that he had felt "unloved" at Red Bull, he set the record straight, insisting that the decision had not been impacted by anyone in the team, other than himself.

He said: "I never said I was unloved, that wasn't the case, and there was not one real highlight other than probably the routine.

"We don't have a 9-5 job and go to the same office every day but many years of going to the same factory or whatever, that routine I felt like at times my enjoyment for the sport was becoming dulled down a bit, numb at times.

"I felt part of the routine was causing that, I'm discovering myself and life and it's changing, how I thought 12 months ago is not how I feel now.

"It was something I felt was maybe not getting the better of me but having an effect but there was no, to be clear, there was no falling out, no bad blood with anyone in the team - with the bosses or anyone at all.

"I know the contract stuff, people assumed I was pretty much done with Red Bull. But I'm pretty sure I said I was close to something but never said 100 per cent it was with Red Bull.

"There was nothing overnight which caused this decision."