Daniel Ricciardo news: What does Ricciardo REALLY think about Ferrari and Mercedes SNUB?
DANIEL RICCIARDO will race for Renault in 2019 but has revealed his true feelings about being snubbed by Ferrari and Mercedes. Express Sport has all the details.
F1: Ricciardo reveals frustration at Mercedes and Ferrari snub
Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his frustrations at being snubbed by Ferrari and Mercedes ahead of the 2019 season.
The Australian star was set to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2018 with the prospect of teaming up with Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel – and their respective teams – on the cards.
However, Ricciardo was overlooked by Mercedes as they renewed Valtteri Bottas’ partnership with Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc was snapped up by Ferrari, leaving Ricciardo to sign for Renault.
The French team are yet to find their feet in the sport since returning to action in 2016.
Renault was a shock move for Ricciardo who opted to end his 10-year spell with Red Bull despite winning two of the opening six races in 2018.
He will be raring to go with a point to prove when the 2019 season comes around after revealing his true thoughts on the Ferrari and Mercedes snubs.
Express Sport has rounded up Daniel Ricciardo’s comments on the move to Renault and being snubbed for a bigger move.
What does Daniel Ricciardo think about Mercedes and Ferrari snubs?
Sky F1 reporter Natalie Pinkham spoke to Ricciardo on her In The Pink podcast.
When asked whether he was frustrated at failing to land a move to the top two constructors, he replied: “Yes, to answer it bluntly.
“At the end of the day in the next 12 months I still think, and everybody would say this, that Mercedes and Ferrari are going to be the teams to beat.
“I won two out of six, so it was Seb [Vettel], Lewis and me who had won two each. At that stage no one else was really touching us.
“I felt like my pull, so to speak, couldn’t have been any higher. In a way, I did expect probably more out of that, and at the time I think rightly so.”
He added: “With what Ferrari have done, I see it and I respect that because I’ve seen Red Bull do it, bringing the young kids through the programme. In a way, I think it’s about time.
“I guess the Mercedes one is probably a bit of a different situation. It’s a slightly different dynamic with the path they’ve chosen.
“I guess for them it’s more conservative, but I can’t argue because it’s worked."
F1 calendar 2019
1. Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne) 17 March
2. Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir) 31 March
3. Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai) 14 April
4. Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku) 28 April
5. Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona) 12 May
6. Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo) 26 May
7. Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal) 9 June
8. French Grand Prix (Le Castellet) 23 June
9. Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg) 30 June
10. British Grand Prix (Silverstone) 14 July
11. German Grand Prix (Hockenheim) 28 July
12. Hungarian Grand Prix (Hungaroring) 4 August
13. Belgian Grand Prix (Spa) 1 September
14. Italian Grand Prix (Monza) 8 September
15. Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore) 22 September
16. Russian Grand Prix (Sochi) 29 September
17. Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka) 13 October
18. Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City) 27 October
19. United States Grand Prix (Austin) 3 November
20. Brazilian Grand Prix (São Paulo) 17 November
21. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Abu Dhabi) 1 December