Ricciardo: No 'one deciding factor' behind McLaren switch
Ricciardo: No 'one deciding factor' behind McLaren switch
Daniel Ricciardo has explained why waiting for the Formula 1 season to start before deciding on a change of teams was not an option.
With the start of the 2020 season being delayed considerably, several Formula 1 drivers have now found themselves in the strange situation of heading into a campaign, knowing they will not be remaining with their current team past the end of the year.
The joint announcement from Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari that he would not be retained into 2021 sparked a brief frenzy of activity, with Carlos Sainz making plans to switch from McLaren to Ferrari, and Ricciardo announcing his move from Renault to McLaren.
“I think obviously Vettel’s announcement, or news with Ferrari, sparked everything," Ricciardo told the F1 Nation podcast. "Then things were moving pretty quickly, obviously around Carlos and all of the other stuff.
“I don’t think there was, although it seemed like maybe there was still time, I don’t actually think there was.
“If we start racing - this is all what I’m just playing in my head – in July, which even then wasn’t 100%, you’ve then got a few races, you’re not going to find out in the first race, the second race, so you’re probably going to wait until August or maybe September before you know where everyone’s at, and by then it felt like it was going to be too late to get something you were after.”
Although Renault finished fifth in the constructors' standings in 2019, the French manufacturer were 54-points short of McLaren in fourth.
Ricciardo explained: “The reality is, you get pitches from whichever team is talking to you, and to some extent, especially now without having any races and any kind of proof other than last year, you have to believe that it’s what pitch do you – maybe even believe is too much – but what pitch excites you more than the other.
“You’re going with what you feel and think at the time. Who knows?
“But if I go back to last year, last year is our best reference for now, they were the team that made the most noise.
"Mercedes won the championship again, but it was quite clear to most that McLaren was the team which made the biggest step out of all, so that was obviously encouraging for them.
"That’s really all you can kind of base it off, and then the pitch for the future."
Before you go...
Zanardi condition 'remains serious' after a 'stable' night
FIA World Motorsport Council ratify changes to the 2020 Formula 1 season
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Vettel announces F1 return as FIA single Mercedes out for Miami checks - GPFans F1 Recap
- 2 hours ago
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- 3 hours ago
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- Yesterday 21:57
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- Yesterday 20:57
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- Yesterday 19:57
Wolff delivers big verdict on Hamilton behaviour
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
McLaren star DROPPED following serious injury
Ricciardo given HUGE boost after upgrade claim
Ricciardo makes five-race admission in bid to survive F1 axe
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860