Ricciardo frozen out at Red Bull for remainder of season

Ricciardo frozen out at Red Bull for remainder of season

Paul Macdonald

Friday 14 September 2018 13:54

Daniel Ricciardo is facing up to being frozen out of Red Bull team meeting for the remainder of the year, after chief Helmut Marko confirmed that all 2019 planning must take place without him for 'fear of him taking things with him to Renault'.

After months of speculation Ricciardo decided to leave Red Bull and sign a two-year deal with Renault starting next year, despite his current employers being keen to retain him alongside Max Verstappen.

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The Aussie had grown tired of playing second fiddle to Verstappen, however, and has set out on his own as Renault show their ambition.

Red Bull are taking absolutely no chances when it comes to car design and strategies for 2019, however, as Marko stated that Ricciardo will be forced to sit out any and all team meetings pertaining to 2019 between now and the end of the season.

He told German publication Bild: "From Singapore, Daniel is excluded from any meetings that concern the future.

"We are already working in the direction of 2019 and do not want him to take anything to Renault.

"Daniel will finish the season with us. He will get all the information in Singapore because it could be our last chance of winning this year."