Bitter, much? Renault racing boss takes a swipe at $30million Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo's 'commitment' - after the Australian's shock defection to rival McLaren
- Daniel Ricciardo announced on Thursday he was leaving Renault for McLaren
- He moved to Renault for a championship-winning car but found little success
- Renault's Formula One boss spoke of a good team requiring 'commitment'
The boss of Renault's Formula One team has taken a parting shot at Daniel Ricciardo after he announced he would be moving to McLaren.
In a statement on Friday about how the team intended to move forward without their star driver, team boss Cyril Abiteboul appeared to take a veiled swipe at the Australian - doubting his commitment.
'In our sport, and particularly within the current extraordinary situation, reciprocated confidence, unity and commitment are, more than ever, critical values for a works team,' he said.
'I am confident that the 2020 season will allow us to accomplish even more together. Our ambitions and the strategy of Renault DP World F1 Team remain unchanged.'
Renault's Formula One boss Cyril Abiteboul (right) took a veiling swipe at Daniel Ricciardo (left) after he announced on Thursday he would be leaving for McLaren in 2021
The F1 driver shuffle began when Sebastian Vettel announced he would leave Ferrari at the season's end.
Ricciardo was originally tipped as the front-runner to replace Vettel at the Italian team, but they instead went for McLaren's star driver, Carlos Sainz Jnr, leaving the Perth-born Australian to link up with the prestigious British racing team.
The 30-year-old has been in search of a championship-winning car since he left Red Bull for Renault in 2018, but found himself slipping even further behind at the French team.
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Renault is rumoured to have signed Ricciardo for over $30million a season but it has been unable to provide him with a competitive or reliable race car
With the coronavirus pandemic halting any races so far this season, Ricciardo has chosen to jump ship for a fresh start next year, rather than prove to Renault he can do better.
Ricciardo has been in search of a championship-winning car since he left Red Bull for Renault in 2018 but found himself slipping even further behind at the French team. Pictured right with model Nikki Phillips
In announcing his departure on Thursday Ricciardo said he was thankful for how openly the French team accepted him
Last week, Abiteboul confessed to Sky Sports F1 that while he hoped to keep Ricciardo for the 2021 season nothing was set in stone.
'We like Daniel,' he said. 'Daniel embarked on a project, that was very clear from day one, and that project is clearly incomplete, both at a team level and I guess also at Daniel's level,' he said.
In announcing his departure on Thursday, Ricciardo said he was thankful for how openly the French team accepted him.
'We aren’t done and I can’t wait to get back on the grid this year. My next chapter isn’t here yet, so let’s finish this one strong. Merci,' he said.
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