Ricciardo’s camp responds to Red Bull’s claims after Helmut Marko had confirmed that Ricciardo did not stay true to his word.
Daniel Ricciardo’s move to Renault came as a shock to the F1 fraternity, as we were made to believe that a contract announcement was round the corner.
A contract announcement about Ricciardo did come through, but with Renault being the beneficiary.
Ricciardo had decided to move on, leaving Red Bull as perplexed as the fans.
According to the Red Bull motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, Ricciardo had agreed to a Red Bull contract and was going to sign it during the first day of the Hungarian Test.
However, that didn’t quite materialise and then on Thursday, Ricciardo informed the team that he would in fact be moving to Renault in search of an adventure.
“It was a very strange situation anyhow.
“The negotiations were difficult but Wednesday before the Austrian Grand Prix we were talking for two hours and came to an agreement. During the weekend, we were talking and renegotiating again.
“In Hungary, he told Mr. [Red Bull owner, Dietrich] Mateschitz and me that he was OK with everything and that he was going to sign during the test on Tuesday. But he didn’t.
“On Thursday, he then called and told me he was going to Renault. I can only assume that maybe he doesn’t believe in the Honda project or that Renault offered him a lot of money.” Helmut Marko had said interview with Austrian TV station Servus.
However, the Ricciardo camp has rejected all such claims, as quoted by ESPN.
The ESPN source said that while an agreement was close, no deal was agreed upon.
With the summer break now all but over, Ricciardo will soon be in front of the camer and multiple journalists, wherein he’ll be clarifying everything related to his new Renault contract and his Red Bull snub.
