Max Verstappen admitted he was surprised that Daniel Ricciardo made the decision to switch from Aston Martin Red Bull Racing to the Renault Sport Formula One Team from 2019, and he feels that it was perhaps not the best move for the Australian to make.
Verstappen had expected Ricciardo to re-sign alongside him at Red Bull beyond this season but instead he will have a new team-mate in Pierre Gasly, while Ricciardo will partner Nico Hülkenberg at Renault after signing a two-year deal with the Enstone-based outfit.
Verstappen remains positive that Red Bull can offer him a car that he would be able to fight for every victory, but he feels Ricciardo’s departure feels like a little bit of impatience coming out after racing with Red Bull for five years and not having a car in that time that was truly front-running.
“I think everyone was surprised, at the end of the day he has to feel good about the decision, that is the most important,” Verstappen is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com. “I think everybody has moments in their careers when you are frustrated or not happy with the current situation.
“I think everyone here wants to win races or win championship, but sometimes it is not like that. You have to be really be patient and work hard for it. Sometimes you need the whole package to come together.
“That is what Red Bull is working on at the moment, and I am confident that they can deliver a car which is capable of winning every race, we just need the whole package and we are working towards that.
“That is why it was also a bit of a surprise for me that he left. A change of scenery? I am not sure it [Renault] is the best scenery to go to.”
