Daniel Ricciardo Sounds Off: Did He Make the Biggest Mistake of His Career by Leaving Red Bull?
In a stunning revelation that has F1 fans buzzing, Daniel Ricciardo has opened up about the pivotal moment he left Red Bull, and the chilling possibility that he could have been “obliterated” by the meteoric rise of teammate Max Verstappen. Reflecting on his tumultuous career, Ricciardo, now enjoying life in retirement as an ambassador for Ford, has thrown fuel on the fire of speculation regarding his career choices and the fierce competition that defined his time at Red Bull.
The Australian driver, who faced a bitter exit from the Racing Bulls after the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024, took a bold step when he departed from the team that had launched him into stardom. In a candid interview, Ricciardo confessed that his decision to leave Red Bull is the biggest “what if” moment of his career. “The most obvious ‘what if?’ especially for people on the outside, is: ‘OK, what if you stayed at Red Bull after 2018?’” he stated, pondering the implications of his choices. “That’s one where I’m like, I don’t know — I don’t know if that was the right decision.”
As Verstappen's dominance grew, Ricciardo couldn't help but wonder if he would have been outclassed in their intra-team rivalry. “There’s also a scenario where Max just obliterated me as the years went on,” he admitted. “Maybe my career ended even quicker. I don’t know.” This admission raises eyebrows: Could Ricciardo have faced a career-ending struggle against a driver who has since become a multiple-time world champion?
Ricciardo's departure from Red Bull coincided with Verstappen’s ascension to greatness, fueling narratives that suggested Ricciardo was running away from a fierce battle. However, he vehemently refuted that notion, asserting, “At the time, some of the narrative was all like, ‘Am I kind of running from the fight?’ I don’t think I was running from the fight. I was just concerned with how things were going to go moving forward.” The nine-time Grand Prix winner emphasized that he was focused on the long-term dynamics of the team rather than a mere fear of competition.
During their nearly three seasons as teammates, Ricciardo and Verstappen were almost equals on the track, pushing each other to their limits. “At the time, I was competitive with Max, and we were pushing each other really well,” he recalled. Despite his later struggles with teams like Renault and McLaren, where he only managed a single victory at Monza in 2021 before being consistently outperformed by Lando Norris, Ricciardo's competitive spirit remains intact.
As fans dissect the implications of Ricciardo's departure and Verstappen's subsequent success, one thing is clear: the F1 world continues to grapple with the legacy of decisions made in the heat of competition. Will Ricciardo's admission spark further debate about driver dynamics and choices in Formula 1? Only time will tell, but it’s certain that this story is far from over.