Ricciardo: Staying at Red Bull with Verstappen could have 'obliterated' me

Daniel Ricciardo has reflected that his decision to leave Red Bull in 2018 may have spared him from being "obliterated" by teammate Max Verstappen, potentially ending his career even sooner. The eight-time Grand Prix winner admits the choice remains a curiosity, not a regret, as he was more concerned about the future team dynamic than shying away from a direct fight.

Why it matters:

Ricciardo's candid reflection offers a rare glimpse into the high-stakes psychological and strategic calculations drivers must make. His departure from a top team, driven by concerns over internal dynamics rather than pure performance fear, highlights how team environment can be as critical as car performance in a driver's career trajectory and longevity.

The details:

• In a recent interview, Ricciardo pondered the alternate path of staying at Red Bull alongside the rapidly improving Verstappen.
• He acknowledged a scenario where Verstappen "just obliterated me as the years went on and maybe my career ended even quicker."
• Ricciardo pushed back against the contemporary narrative that he was "running from the fight," stating his primary concern was "how things were going to go moving forward" within the team.
• He emphasized being "more concerned about the team dynamic more than running from a fight," while fully admitting Verstappen would have been "extremely hard to beat."
• The Australian's subsequent moves to Renault and McLaren failed to reignite his prior success, leading to his eventual exit from F1 after the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.

What's next:

Now over a year into his retirement, Ricciardo views his career crossroads with philosophical curiosity rather than regret. He doesn't believe staying was necessarily the right decision, but remains intrigued by the unknown outcome. His experience underscores the lasting mental and emotional toll of the sport's high-pressure decisions, suggesting that sometimes, having a choice taken out of one's hands—as with his later dismissals—can provide a form of closure.