Marko: Ricciardo's Renault switch is very strange
Aug.22 - Dr Helmut Marko says Daniel Ricciardo's decision to quit Red Bull was "very strange".
Australian Ricciardo caught Marko as well as the rest of the F1 world by surprise when he announced he is joining Renault for 2019.
"It's a very strange story," Marko told Servus TV.
"On Wednesday before Austria, we agreed. In Hungary, he told both me and Mr Mateschitz that he would sign at the test on Tuesday, but he didn't.
"On Thursday I got a call and his voice was funny. 'We are adults, come to the point' I told him. He said he's going to Renault.
"I can only assume he does not believe in Honda and that Renault offered him a very high amount of money. But I think 'shoeys' will be very difficult for him in the near future," Marko said.
Marko also acknowledged that, after a decade in the Red Bull programme, Ricciardo just needed a change, especially as the Renault engines are being dropped.
"Unlike Ricciardo, we have lost faith in Renault," Marko admitted. "Their promise of being competitive never occurred. That's why I took pleasure in the opportunity offered to us.
"We started with Toro Rosso but everything worked perfectly. And Honda will work even harder next year.
"We have a different approach to McLaren. They more or less dictated to Honda what the engine should look like. We simply tell them to build the best engine possible and we'll somehow accommodate it.
"They have clearly made mistakes but this year with Toro Rosso we clearly see that things are improving. I'm sure we'll be ahead of Renault next year," he added.
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What a slime this person with two first names Helmut & Marko, who insists on being called a doctor, is. Yea right, acting surprised Ricciardo left, but the quack goes around saying how Red Bull's goal is to make Verstapen the youngest World Champion. Ricciardo may be a jerk for drinking from a shoe, but he is not that stupid not to see where Marco's (or is it Helmut's) goals leave him. Ricciardo may not go places at Renault, but then neither will the Red Bull in the china shop. Jerks.
Simon Saivil, if you can,t write a comment in civilized English, I suggest you stay of this site.
I don't get it. There were no four-letter words used, and the FCC cleared it before I posted.
Simon, you are the one in need of an English lesson. Two glaring mistakes in such a short sentence. Anyhow, Simon's comments are a reasonable reaction to what has been happening with Ricciardo and Red Bull.
Ian, I am confused by your remarks. I did not compete for Pulitzer Prize and did not claim error-free post. I merely was, and still am, perplexed by the complaint that what I wrote was offensive. In America we call a "jerk" anyone who acts like one. If you have a better label for Helmut Marko's behaviour go for it.
Siimon, My remark was actually addressed to you by mistake and was actually meant for your critic Hans Bennik. I agree with you on the Ricciardo issue that he was being seen as the support driver rather like Mark Webber and no amount of wins was going to change Marko's view. It is hard to see Ricciardo getting any podiums in the Renault though. The newly branded Force India team are clearly the best of the rest although Stroll senior will probably eject Ocon from the team to make way for Stroll junior who will soon be found out when he can't use the 'crap car' excuse for being at the back of the grid anymore. Hopefully Ocon will get decent drive elsewhere because he is clearly a far better driver than some who are not in F1 on merit.
Daniel and Renault will be fine, The bulls on the other hand may struggle with the Honda engine I see Torro Rosso aren’t setting the world on fire, concentrated efforts on their own team without the Redbull distractions will translate into improved performance.
Daniel and Renault will be fine, The bulls on the other hand may struggle with the Honda engine I see Torro Rosso aren’t setting the world on fire, concentrated efforts on their own team without the Redbull distractions will translate into improved performance.
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