Daniel Ricciardo has signed with Renault for 2019

Wasn't there Newey to Reno rumours earlier this year??

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I wonder if Danny Ric's decision was as much about them over paying for Mad Max CrashStappen as it was over the coming Honda boat anchors weighing down the back of Adrian Newey's marvelous machines? Pink Cow were so keen to snap up CrashStappen despite the fact the Danny had him handily beaten last year, and he's still on track to beat him again in the points this year, that they forgot their stronger driver. I think that as much as the Honda's lack of performance could be it.

While the Red Bull's are certainly amazing cars and machines, I just can't respect how Christian Horner and Helmut Marko love to throw their partners under the bus. The way they have treated Renault over the last four years is disgraceful and it is the reason they are now stuck with Honda as Neither Mercedes or Ferrari wanted to sell engines to a bunch of bad mouthing, not team playing babies who's rattle is constantly on the edge of being thrown from the pram.

I really hope that Renault continue to improve . Since buying back the smoking wreck of their once proud team from LOTUS (Truly living up to it's moniker of Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious as a team) they've constantly improved from 9th in the constructors championship in 2016, to 6th last year and they are now lying 4th safely ahead of HASS, but miles behind Redbull. With RB getting boat anchors next year I see a really good chance for Renault to be the third best team on the grid, much as as RB are today. I don't know if they will be able to challenge for wins next year, but unless Honda finally get it right I see Renault beating them.

 

I agree with your comments regarding RBR's treatment of Renault as a partner, but Ferrari and Mercedes wouldn't lease power units to RBR because they could beat the mother team. Keep in mind that Honda is bringing $$$ to the table plus the power units.

 

Yes, indeed; but Carlos Goshn has said many times (and again just a few weeks ago) that Renault F1 must win "on a budget", and that he will not allow a Policy of "open check book"...
NOW...this has to be taken with a pinch of salt, because he also said that he "would not consider the signing of a top driver with a high salary", so....
Certainly, Renault has an agenda towards their return at the top which seems realistic, but I wonder if they have the long-term money to compete with Ferrari and Mercedes.
Red Bull is a different matter entirely, as long as Mateschitz is interested, they will be there.
Can't see Renault luring Newey away from Red Bull, but of course any top team has to ask itself this question; I'm sure Mercedes has thought about him, as has Ferrari.

Rgds

 

I think that Newey has a job for life at RBR. Watch next week it will be announced that he is moving to Force India.

 

I am quite happy for Ricciardo to move to Renault if the alternative for him was to play "second fiddle" to spoilt brat Verstappen.
It may also bring Renault to the fore, now that they don't have a whinning customer team to look after.
Renault should rank 4th next year, and even possibly 3rd if Red Bull encounters the problems I expect with their Honda PU.

 

Good for the smiling bandit, I can only hope Renault delivers a competitive car next year.

I wonder which Spaniard will take the other RB seat? Everyone thinks Sainz Jr is the obvious choice, but when was the last time RB had a Jr driver in both their cars? It wouldn’t be surprising if the Sr Spaniard Alonso gets the other seat right?

 

Gasly to Red Bull is the top rumor I see this morning, along with Sainz. They are both under contract in the Red Bull system.

 

Something tells me that he would not be that keen on taking another dose of Honda power..."the power of your dreams"
But that's just me...


(and as a traditionalist, in recognition of their involvment in racing, I do really wish for Honda to succeed and win races)

Rgds

 

Red Bull usually doesn't recruit established drivers for its F1 team.
It recruits from lower categories in its organisation; that eliminates Alonso.
Beside, they would probably not want to pay the retainer he could be asking.
Red Bull spends its money on cars, not on drivers.

 

Might be a little too soon for Gasly? Sainz has history with Max and although he might like to drive for RBR I can't see him playing the martyr(again).

 

Good. I think this will finally put paid to any chance he will ever go to the Scuderia.

 

I think he approached them, and got the cold shoulder treatment.
So he must have realised he wasn't on their wish list and moved on.

 

Sainz might be the odd man out here. McLaren?

 

He should have known: You don't call them. They call you.

 

Going from second fiddle at RB to top driver on a team that plays second fiddle to everyone.

 

Well, it has been said (printed, that is) that he asked Renault for a two year contract, this to be free to change his mind when the new engine regulation will be in force in 2021.
Others wrote that one very difficult point in his discussions with RB was that he asked for a one year only "firm engagement", with extensions as an option only, open for him to exercise, because he had doubts about the Honda engine, and he wanted to have an option to leave at the end of 2019, for instance towards Mercedes, as Bottas has been granted only a one year firm extension. Red Bull was adamant he signed for at least two years.

Now of course we weren't privy to the discussions, and I have never seen a driver's agreement myself, so...

Rgds

 

Yes, it's a gamble for Ricciardo, I guess.
But it's a strike of luck for Renault to get probably the 4th, if not the 3rd best driver in their ranks now.

The big question mark is: how will Red Bull perform next year with their Honda power?
Ricciardo already knows what the Renault engine is like.

 

The question is, do you sign as "2nd fiddle to Max" and let your driving shut everyone up or do you jump ship to Renault and watch the podium ceremony with the fans.

 

Signing to a Factory Team ? There are worse things a driver can do

 

In a way he did a Barrichello who got sick of playing second fiddle to MS and went to Honda.

Question is: Will Renault turn into a Brawn?

 

The big unknown in this is the Honda power next year.

Red Bull that much criticised Renault over the last 4 years (in spite of podiums and wins) may rue one day their decision to jump ship.

Ricciado gambles that Renault will improve next year.

Red Bull gambles that Honda is going to give them a winning engine; that's a tall ordeal.

 

Renault needs to be successful next season; if RB turns that Honda power into a winning PU next season it’s going to be a PR disaster for Renault.

I guess with Ricci at Renault, Kimi gets to keep playing 2nd fiddle to Seb for another season...I’ll also bet my liver Seb vetoed any chance for Ricci to come onboard Ferrari after Ricci obliterated him at RB.

 

A tall "ordeal" indeed

 

I'm not sure that is a valid comparison. Barrichello never had the measure of MS IMO.