Despite Renault’s improving form, Daniel Ricciardo says he doesn’t regret deciding to leave for McLaren at the end of the year.
The French team has gotten better and better as the 2020 season has gone on and is now just seven points off P3 in the Constructors’ Championship, which is currently occupied by McLaren.
At this point, the car Ricciardo is currently driving looks quicker than the one he’ll be in next year. Nevertheless, he has no regrets and says increased competition is a good thing for all parties.
“It’s obviously no disrespect to Renault and where I currently am, but no, I don’t regret it,” he said as per gpfans.com.
“Am I happy to see us progress? Absolutely. All well and good. i#If it means we’ve got Renault as a competitor next year to push McLaren further then I think it’s good for everyone.
“So I’m not regretting it, but I’m also not unhappy with the progress. I want to be racing at the front.
“Every race in F1 is so important. Every chance I get to do it, the sooner the better. I am glad we’re making progress, and I feel a part of it, which is important as well to me and I guess my growth as a driver.”
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When a driver is set to move to a rival the following season, his current employers can often keep him in the dark to ensure he doesn’t take any confidential information with him.
Sergio Perez has stated that Racing Point is doing so with him, but Ricciardo has had no such issues.
“The team haven’t shut me out on anything. I’ve been doing simulator and all of it,” he added.
“It’s been really good to work with them. I know, for sure, bittersweet, especially for some guys in this team to know I can’t continue after this year, but I’m going to give it a red hot crack until the last day.”
With McLaren getting Mercedes engines next season, the Aussie does have some reason to believe 2021 will be a step up for him in terms of machinery.
After four top-six finishes in the last four races, he is currently P6 in the Driver’s Championship with 63 points and is just two behind future team-mate Lando Norris in P4.
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