Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has been quoted as suggesting Daniel Ricciardo left the team to avoid a “fight” with Max Verstappen.
The whole story of why the Australian chose to join Renault in 2019 has rumbled since it was announced last summer, with Ricciardo suggesting a “kaleidoscope” of factors was included involving Honda and the Red Bull leadership.
Most have wondered, however, how much of an impact the rise of the Dutchman played into his thinking, particularly with Verstappen emerging as the clear top man at Red Bull in the second half of last season.
“Is he (Ricciardo) making the right career choice? My assumption is that he is running from a fight (with Verstappen),” the Daily Telegraph reports Horner as saying during Formula 1’s new Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’.
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For his part, Ricciardo has maintained he doesn’t have an issue with the 21-year-old though has already suggested he is enjoying the maturity alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Renault.
“I’m honestly just happy to be the younger driver in the team again. It’s been a while. I’ve been the old guy for the last few years,” he told Australian news.
“I think (Hulkenberg) having done this so many years, I think that helps… There’s less risk of someone losing their mind.”
Somehow this does feel like a story that will rumble for years to come, regardless of what happens in Ricciardo’s career.
