Does Daniel Ricciardo Regret Leaving Red Bull for Renault? F1 Career Move Explained

Daniel Ricciardo Reflects on His Fateful Red Bull Departure

Back in July 2018, Daniel Ricciardo stood among the elite drivers on the Formula 1 grid. Having spent a decade inside the Red Bull program starting from his junior racing days, the Australian had established himself as a frontline race winner spearheading the outfit’s championship aspirations. However, a seismic shift arrived when Cyril Abiteboul offered him a lucrative deal to lead the Renault F1 Team, prompting Ricciardo to take a massive gamble despite having already secured two grand prix victories in the opening half of the 2018 campaign.

The high-stakes move away from Milton Keynes failed to yield the success Ricciardo envisioned. His debut 2019 campaign with Renault yielded zero podium finishes, with the French manufacturer slipping behind McLaren to fifth in the constructors’ standings. Ricciardo opted to jump ship to McLaren for 2021 before the pandemic-interrupted 2020 championship had even begun. Aside from a famous victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, his tenure at Woking proved turbulent, culminating in an early contract termination in favor of Oscar Piastri for 2023. A later comeback stint with AlphaTauri/RB was also cut short due to underperformance, while former teammate Max Verstappen surged ahead to claim four consecutive world titles in the machinery Ricciardo had voluntarily abandoned.

Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Ricciardo addressed whether he ultimately regrets walking away from Red Bull. I still don’t really know how to answer it, because I definitely don’t want to say, ‘Oh, yeah, I would have been world champion if I stayed’, because it’s not a reality that was lived. Max has gone on to prove he is one of the best ever, so I don’t want to dismiss that as well and be like, ‘Yeah, I would have beat Max and become world champion’. It wouldn’t have been an easy task, but I think it’s also maybe a bit unfair towards him to say that. Obviously I respect him a lot, Ricciardo explained. He added: I acknowledge definitely that it was a decision that was… If I tell you everything that went on, it was wild.

The Urge for Change and the ‘What If’ of Title Contention

Explaining his original motivations, Ricciardo pointed toward a creeping sense of familiarity after a full decade embedded within the Red Bull setup. If I’m to answer it shortly, yes, I wish I would have stayed, but… I don’t know, at the time, I left because I felt I was getting a bit comfortable, a bit complacent, he admitted. I think there was a desire to try something else. It’s not that black and white.

Even so, the eight-time Grand Prix winner openly acknowledged that walking away cost him his strongest chance at motorsport’s ultimate prize. If I could have been a world champion, was that my best opportunity? Yes, absolutely. I would have loved to have known another reality of if I stayed. I don’t want to say it haunts me, but it’s the one unknown that I’m like, ‘Hmm, I’m so interested how that would have panned out’.

Ricciardo was also candid about the relentless evolution of Verstappen, who became Red Bull’s clear focal point as his speed and consistency matured. There’s also a reality where Max kept getting better, kept getting momentum, and I don’t know – would I have kept lifting? It’s hard to say, Ricciardo confessed. I won some races that 2018 year, I got a pole. I was still very capable, so I’m not doubting my abilities to have kept competing with Max, but… it’s a hard one.

Looking back across the trajectory of his career since that summer in 2018, Ricciardo recognized the profound impact of the choice. It’s clear that from that point on, yes, the river was a little winding and rough. That was a pivotal moment, for sure. So, if I could relive it, would I stay – and am I absolutely curious about what would have happened? Yes, the answer is yes. If you want to call it regret or curiosity or whatever, then I will say yes.

Why This Matters

Daniel Ricciardo’s 2018 switch remains one of the most consequential driver market transfers in modern Formula 1 history. It reshaped multiple team rosters across the paddock, leading directly to Renault’s restructuring, McLaren’s pursuit and subsequent promotion of Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s prolonged search for a consistent rear gunner to partner Max Verstappen—a seat eventually filled by Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, and Sergio Perez. Ricciardo’s candid admission provides rare, transparent insight into how psychological complacency, timing, and internal team dynamics can irrevocably alter a world-class driver’s legacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Daniel Ricciardo leave Red Bull in 2018?

Daniel Ricciardo decided to leave Red Bull Racing for Renault because he felt he was becoming too comfortable and complacent after spending a decade within the Red Bull family, prompting an internal desire to pursue a fresh challenge outside the organization.

How successful was Ricciardo after departing Red Bull?

Following his departure at the end of 2018, Ricciardo endured difficult campaigns. He scored two podiums with Renault in 2020 before moving to McLaren in 2021. Although he secured an unexpected victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, persistent performance struggles led to an early contract termination at McLaren and an eventual, short-lived final stint at RB.

Does Daniel Ricciardo believe he would have won a championship at Red Bull?

Ricciardo believes remaining with Red Bull was undoubtedly his best career opportunity to fight for a World Championship. However, he stopped short of claiming he would have beaten Max Verstappen to the crown, acknowledging Verstappen’s rise as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.