Outgoing Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo has insisted he doesn’t regret signing for McLaren despite the French works team’s recent impressive form, but said it is somewhat “bittersweet” for him.
“It’s obviously no disrespect to Renault and where I currently am, but no, I don’t regret it,” he said.
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Renault currently have the third or fourth fastest car, and Ricciardo said he is pleased with the in-season development completed in 2020.
“Am I happy to see us progress? Absolutely. All well and good. 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,” he added.
Continuing, Ricciardo said: “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.”
He added that the team hasn’t shut him out despite them knowing he’s going to a rival team next year.
“The team haven’t shut me out on anything. I’ve been doing simulator [work] and all of it.
“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.”
Daniel Ricciardo is currently sixth in the F1 Drivers’ Standings, just two points behind future team-mate Lando Norris, who sits fourth in the table.
Meanwhile, Renault are fifth in the Constructors’ Standings, only seven points adrift of third-placed McLaren.
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