Daniel Ricciardo admits regret over 2018 Red Bull exit but praises Max Verstappen’s rise

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Daniel Ricciardo has openly reflected on his decision to leave Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2018 season, admitting he wishes he had stayed with the team. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the Australian revealed that although he was eager for a new challenge at Renault, the move ultimately cost him his best chance at a world championship. Ricciardo acknowledged that Red Bull wanted him to remain, but at the time he felt comfortable and complacent, prompting him to seek a fresh start.

Ricciardo’s departure cleared the way for Max Verstappen to become Red Bull’s undisputed lead driver. Since then, Verstappen has secured four consecutive world titles, cementing his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Ricciardo was careful not to claim he could have beaten Verstappen, calling it “unfair” to suggest so, but he insisted that he was still performing at a top level in 2018, citing his Monaco Grand Prix victory and pole position in Mexico as proof.

The gamble on Renault did not pay off for Ricciardo. He failed to score a podium in 2019, and Renault finished behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings. His subsequent move to McLaren yielded only one win at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix before his struggles continued, leading to his replacement by Oscar Piastri for 2023. Ricciardo’s final stint back with AlphaTauri was also cut short due to underperformance, marking a difficult end to his Formula 1 career.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has previously praised Ricciardo’s prime years with the team, contrasting them with the more acrimonious exit of Mark Webber in 2013. Horner recalled that Ricciardo’s arrival from Toro Rosso was initially met with doubts about his racecraft, but he quickly proved himself. Despite Ricciardo’s eventual departure, Horner’s comments highlight the respect the team had for him during his tenure.

Looking back, Ricciardo described his exit as a “major regret” but also a complex decision driven by a desire to push himself beyond the comfort zone he felt at Red Bull. He remains curious about how his career might have unfolded had he stayed, calling it “the one unknown” that still intrigues him. As Ricciardo’s F1 journey has concluded, his reflections offer a candid perspective on the risks and realities behind one of the sport’s most pivotal career moves.