In the round-up: Daniel Ricciardo says he isn’t hoping Red Bull will struggle in 2019 having left the team before their new partnership with Honda began.
What they say
Ricciardo, who has joined Renault for the 2019 F1 season, reflected on his his change of teams when asked by RaceFans last year:
Red Bull told me they’re going to get more power from the Honda so I’m expecting it. How much, we’ll see.
I’m not wishing against them. I’m not like ‘I hope they don’t get it right’. It’s more for my sake I hope Renault get it right and if they other teams do so be it.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Sauber: lo shakedown della C38 a Fiorano il 14 febbraio (Motorsport - Italian)
"Sauber is rumoured to be running its new F1 car for the first time at Ferrari's Fiorano test track on February 14th."
Sirotkin and Dejonghe take Mahindra seats for rookie test in Marrakesh (Formula E)
"Following on from a podium finish in the 2018 Ad Diriyah E-Prix for Mahindra Racing's Jerome d'Ambrosio, the Indian team has named Sergey Sirotkin and its development driver Sam Dejonghe as its drivers for the in-season rookie test following the 2019 Marrakesh E-Prix on January 13."
Track work begins at Abu Dhabi (World Rallycross)
"The 1200 meter circuit will be located in the North Arena area of the Abu Dhabi circuit, with the turn five-six chicane of the Formula 1 circuit forming turns one and two of the World RX track, before using the grandstand-lined hairpin for turn three, then heading into the infield."
Ecclestone blasts jailed airman's claim 'kidnapping was your wife's idea' (The Mirror)
"Faria was charged with not only flying Ecclestone but Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Pele, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. But his contract flying the stars came crashing down after Fabiana fell out with him."
Miles sees Speedway as perfect fit in fact lane with IndyCar, IMS (IndyCar)
"Through the multiyear deal, Speedway will provide the fuel powering every car at every race in the IndyCar Series."
Vijay Mallya First Tycoon To Be Named 'Fugitive Economic Offender' (NDTV)
"Vijay Mallya became the first tycoon to be charged under a new anti-fraud law, with a court in Mumbai today naming him as an offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018."
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Comment of the day
Sergio Perez deserves another chance with a top team, says @Garns:
It would be great to see Perez in a top seat but I cant see that happening now.
His timing to McLaren was similar to Ricciardo’s to Red Bull (but worse in car performance really). Perez and Hulkenberg are not young anymore so a drive in a top seat looks unlikely which I think make the Hulks decision to join Renault and hope they get back to the top again a much smarter move.
With the younger drivers coming through now its seems Perez has nowhere to go, which is a shame.
@Garns
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Aussie Rod (@aussierod)
6th January 2019, 0:08
Zanardi… what an inspiration.
Sham (@sham)
6th January 2019, 8:29
Seconded. A real legend.
I assume the steering wheels are different to accommodate him, but that he can share a car with the others is wonderful.
Jere (@jerejj)
6th January 2019, 7:31
”Red Bull told me they’re going to get more power from the Honda”
– I hope that’s indeed going to be the case, although I’ll still only believe it if it actually happens.
Impressive work by Alex Zanardi indeed.
I thoroughly agree with the COTD. Yes, I also think he deserves a chance in a top team, but unfortunately, the prospects of that don’t look too high.
ColdFly (@)
6th January 2019, 8:08
The daily round-up has quotes from ‘last year’?
I hope one day the round-up returns to what it used to be: a summary of all the important, noteworthy, and funny mentions related to F1 (and other racing series) of the last 24hrs.
GtisBetter (@)
6th January 2019, 9:46
This is a slow news period for motorsport, so can’t really blame them for saying a couple things for later. I am surprised they manage daily articles actually.
mog
6th January 2019, 10:47
What we need is a caption competition!
ColdFly (@)
6th January 2019, 11:12
spot on.
KGN11
6th January 2019, 11:24
Naw, not buying that from Ricciardo at all. Having the Honda/Red Bull partnership fail, will be the only thing that justifies him joining Renault.
ColdFly (@)
6th January 2019, 11:48
1) money
2) not wanting to be a #2 driver
3) better chance of beating your teammate
4) believing that Renault will be in F1 longer than RBR
5) change of scenery
6) confused if to drive a Honda or Aston Martin privately
7) liking the sound of the Renault engine
8) enjoying the ridiculous comments on fan websites related to your move
KGN11
6th January 2019, 11:59
1) you’re assuming he’s getting more than was offered
2) he was a #2 in 2014, how did that turn out?
3) So he wants an easy teammate?
4) Have you seen what’s happening with the head of Renault?
5) Grass isn’t always greener on the other side
6) Yea, because driving a Megane or Clio is better
7) The sound of it blowing up?
8) Met him once, so it’d be cool if he was reading my comment
Robbie (@robbie)
6th January 2019, 15:23
I get the impression DR is a classy guy and likely does not wish any undo strife for hIs former family at RBR/Honda, and would likely prefer to beat a strong RBR in an even stronger Renault (theoretically) than to beat them only because they’re ‘failing.’ Define failing anyway. I’m sure if they do not win their first race there will be some around here immediately saying they should have stayed with Renault. Personally I expect 2019 to be something closer to a struggle for them as opposed to just picking up where they left off only with more hp (again, theoretically). So I won’t look at whatever negative happens to them this year as anything but year one of a new marriage, and the steep part of the learning curve.
As to the #2 concept….just not buying it. DR has had too much success at RBR, last year’s unreliability aside, such that what we saw was both drivers given equal equipment and opportunity and there is no reason that would not have continued had DR stayed. That’s not the same discussion as to who is the better driver in the team, namely MV imho.
In 2014 DR was the natural #2, but SV had an off year and DR obviously was not prevented from outpointing him. But then in 2015, natural #2 Kvyat beat DR. They obviously do not favour any one driver. At least not when they aren’t vying for the WDC/WCC.
KGN11
6th January 2019, 17:37
@Robbie
Well that marriage has gotten off on the wrong foot, Red Bull for years have used a company called AVL to help develop their car and guess what? That contract was terminated because of a disagreement between them and Honda. In the same report, they’ve now called in Mario Illen to help.
Robbie (@robbie)
6th January 2019, 18:48
@KGN11 Interesting. Googled it to read what you had already read. I see it is the same AVL project manager that had disagreements with Ferrari’s work too, which also ended that collaboration between Ferrari and AVL. As I have said all along Honda have everything to prove yet, and in these early days with RBR I expect issues. Hopefully they’ll tackle them sooner than later and don’t start off the 2019 season with this engine vibration that is being discussed.
greg-c (@greg-c)
7th January 2019, 5:43
@Robbie
My personal opinion is the Seb “did” have an off year , and on purpose, to invoke a performance clause that releases him to go race at Ferrari, just my 2 cents worth
KGN11
6th January 2019, 11:58
1) you’re assuming he’s getting more than was offered
2) he was a #2 in 2014, how did that turn out?
3) So he wants an easy teammate?
4) Have you seen what’s happening with the head of Renault?
5) Grass isn’t always greener on the other side
6) Yea, because driving a Megane or Clio is better
7) The sound of it blowing up?
8) Met him once, so it’d be cool if he was reading my comment
petebaldwin (@)
6th January 2019, 15:13
I’m constantly amazed by Zanardi every time I see him…. The guy is an absolute machine!
Robbie (@robbie)
6th January 2019, 15:28
For sure. His immediate reaction after his severe accident was that he still had his life. And then he just carried on and took it from there. A true inspiration.
TribalTalker (@tribaltalker)
6th January 2019, 17:33
@petebaldwin – He has good support around him. I read that his wife bought him a present while he was in hospital recovering from the major surgery after his big accident. She bought him a car, of course. Now that’s positive thinking.