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Post by René on Aug 3, 2018 11:07:30 GMT
Breaking news (but not officially confirmed yet):
Daniel Ricciardo will leave Red Bull at the end of the current Formula 1 season and will take up a seat at Renault for 2019, according to RaceFans.net. Ricciardo joined Red Bull in 2014 and has taken seven Grand Prix wins so far in his five and a half year stint with the energy drink team
The 29-year-old is expected to partner Nico Hulkenberg at the French team, who is tied to a multi-year deal. This will more than likely allow Carlos Sainz to join Red Bull, as he is still a part of the Austrian team, despite being loaned to Renault for the 2018 season.
Ricciardo has been linked with a move away from Red Bull for a long time as his contract expires at the end of the current season. Some sources say that Ricciardo decided not to sign a contract extension after Red Bull decided it would run with Honda power in 2019.
However, it is also suggested that Ricciardo has been left disgruntled after Red Bull has made Verstappen its de facto No. 1 driver with a vastly improved contract deal last year, which ties the 20-year-old to the team until the end of the 2020 season. ciardo will leave Red Bull at the end of the current Formula 1 season and will take up a seat at Renault for 2019, according to RaceFans.net. Ricciardo joined Red Bull in 2014 and has taken seven Grand Prix wins so far in his five and a half year stint with the energy drink team. Source: F1Today
There's a surprise!
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Post by mikael on Aug 3, 2018 11:32:26 GMT
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Post by René on Aug 3, 2018 11:47:15 GMT
Mikael, I think Grandprix.com is a good site. Verstappen and Horner have been very critical towards Renault but Max has said afterwards his words were too harsh. But the damage is already done (a long time ago). I can fully understand if Renault does not treat RB as their main customer anymore. Better focus on their own works team.
The news regarding Danny seems sure now as I read more confirmations. I hope for him this is a good move.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 12:22:27 GMT
OK, I'll stick my head out.
He must have received an offer he couldn't refuse, to throw away his career this way. On the other hand, as an extenuating circumstance, the realization he had everything to lose at RB: either he outperformed consistently Max or he was already an has-been. Well, he is now.
If he comes back from such a move and ends up winning a, one, world championship, anywhere, then he is a bona fide all-time great. In the meantime, we'll watch how he stacks up to the Hulk. Er… not really.
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Post by charleselan on Aug 3, 2018 12:44:52 GMT
If you really think about it, not such an unexpected move. Firstly Ricciardo knows full well that Max is the RB favoured son (that is how they operate), and secondly there is the matter of Honda. With regard to the latter there are those that have faith and believe the mighty Honda will come good, maybe they will, maybe not. Their past and more recent record isn't too impressive and I am not just talking about the current formula.
To be brutally honest Renault or McLaren were his only real options, as contrary to what the media and Ricciardo's fan base and he himself think, his stock wasn't that high. At Renault he has the chance to build and it could be that the Enstone based team come up with the goods, however there is just the little matter of one Nico Hulkenburg. If Hulk manages to put Ricciardo away then it will confirm for all those who believe that he is the real deal, once and for all; it will be a very interesting contest.
Then there is the no small matter who will replace Ricciardo at RB, many think it will be Carlos Sainz Jnr, however there was bad blood between he and Max when they were at Toro Rosso, and conflict is something Horner does not like to deal with at all. So could it be that Carlos heads off to McLaren where he will once again work with James Key, that is if that move goes ahead unblemished.
That would then lead everyone to believe that Pierre Gasly would move up to RB, but that maybe a bit too soon. As an outside bet how about Jean-Eric Verne returning to the fold, his stock these days is pretty high, and he was seen in the RB pit during the French GP weekend (wishful thinking maybe).
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Post by René on Aug 3, 2018 13:23:26 GMT
Yes I have to agree with you JC. There were obvious doubts about staying at RB, otherwise he would have signed there earlier. Ferrari and Mercedes were never really on the table so the only real options were Renault and McLaren. His choice for Renault then makes sense. But it's not entirely impossible this move turns out to be a step sideways rather than backwards. The Honda PU is still a big question mark and Renault has been improving year by year so who knows.
Danny and the Hulk in one team is certainly something to look forward to and will indeed tell us where Nico actually stands as a driver.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 14:08:29 GMT
I like Daniel, great guy and great racer. But I'm afraid he is history now. Good luck.
There are two questions I have, and they are most likely linked to each other.
One - how long is going Max to stay at RB, how long can they hold on to him. They can give him all the money in the world, but it is easy to presume he wants to start to win big, without further ado. Not sure RB is the place, with or without Honda.
Two - who can handle Hamilton, if he keeps going like the last two years? That is the question. Who is going to be the next ace. Is it going to be Max and does he needs a different car to do that? A red car, perhaps. In particular if Vettel comes up short again.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 14:22:11 GMT
Another point, highlighted by Turrini, is how long is Ricciardo's contract with the French?
Turrini:
Maybe it's me, but except the usual suspects (Lewis, Vettel, Max) I still can't figure out the people who are going to win world championships in the relative near future, at the moment.
Not Sainz, not Perez, not the Hulk. Ricciardo is a multiple GP winner, he's proven he can hold it together. Surely Turrini can't be right. Can he?
PS: The fallacy in Turrini's argument is that both Merc and Ferrari had drivers with expiring contracts THIS year and weren't interested in Ricciardo. Why would they change their minds in a year time, when likely he will have less to show for it? And some other younger guy will have shown promise?
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Post by mikael on Aug 3, 2018 14:30:35 GMT
A bit earlier this year there was some talk about Newey joining Renault. Now, according to some news sites, it has been confirmed that it will not happen this year, i.e. not for the 2019 season. But perhaps they are setting up ambitious plans for 2020 - or for 2021 when the engine regulations are going to be changed? Certainly they wish to move up along the two other manufacturer works teams - where they really belong.
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Post by René on Aug 3, 2018 14:37:01 GMT
Lucio, the contract is for two years. A sensible choice I guess.
I don't see championships with Hulk, Sainz or Perez either. I would rather expect the French (Monegasque) legion to conquer F1, Gasly, Leclerc or maybe Ocon who I still rate very highly.
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Post by René on Aug 3, 2018 14:38:06 GMT
A bit earlier this year there was some talk about Newey joining Renault. Now, according to some news sites, it has been confirmed that it will not happen this year, i.e. not for the 2019 season. But perhaps they are setting up ambitious plans for 2020 - or for 2021 when the engine regulations are going to be changed? Certainly they wish to move up along the two other manufacturer works teams - where they really belong. Yep, the Newey rumours is a good point Mikael!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 14:42:44 GMT
If that is the case, Mikael, if it turns out with Newey at Renault, then Ricciardo is a bona fide genius, Nobel prize level. Seriously. He would be wasted as a racing driver. No sarcasm, on the contrary.
I still believe someone has to give at or on the red cars. Before there was the excuse Italian engineers weren't good enough, now that doesn't hold anymore. Phew. So what next? Who is going to handle Hamilton?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 14:50:14 GMT
Max. Can only be Max.
Can't stand him, who cares if he can drive. And give us a fight.
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Post by charleselan on Aug 3, 2018 14:58:51 GMT
It is interesting to read the thoughts that the likes of Hulk; Sainz Jnr etc are not going to win a championship(s), maybe true. However just consider that there have been quite a few guys in the history of the sport who one would not have thought capable (I use this word advisedly) of winning, but ended up in the right place at the right time, and also rose to the occasion.
I will leave it to you to figure out who might have fulfilled that category.
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Post by robmarsh on Aug 3, 2018 16:06:14 GMT
I like the news when a good driver leaves Red Bull. I think Renault will be more competitive each year so 2020 could be good for them. Of all the teams outside the big 3 I think Renault is the only one that has the wherewithal to make it the big four. Ferrari are on an upward development curve and I think will be the car to beat over the next two and a half seasons. I think Merc are reaching the end of their development curve on the current design and wonder whether they will bring in a new design so close to the end of the formula. The brilliance of Hamilton, as long as he stays interested, will keep them there or thereabouts but I think he only has two seasons left in him.
I think Red Bull are on a downward curve and that Newey won't be there after 2019. He must be getting bored by now and it is within his normal cycle to leave. I mean he was already off designing boats and had to be brought back due to the initial mistakes with last years car.
I don't think Danny Ric is at the same level as Hamilton, Vettel, or Verstappen but he could still win a championship. Alonso has no chance with Mclaren for at least three years and would probably have moved on. The next wave will include Leclerc, Ocon and Gasly.
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