F1 news: Former Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul labels Daniel Ricciardo ‘selfish’ over McLaren exit

Daniel Ricciardo has vowed to block out the off-track distractions at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix as a former team boss lashed him for being “selfish”.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 05: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepares to drive on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 05, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Daniel Ricciardo’s former Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul has reflected on the Australian driver’s decision to leave the French outfit for McLaren as “a bit selfish” and suggested the AlphaTauri star had made a practice of poor timing in his career.

As Ricciardo attempted to “block out the distractions” at this weekend’s hyped Las Vegas Grand Prix as the F1 circus rolled into Sin City, Abiteboul made it clear the feelings he still harboured over the 34-year-old’s departure from Renault three years ago.

Ricciardo stunned the F1 world ahead of the 2019 season when he announced he was leaving Red Bull, where he had been a seven-time grand prix winner, for Renault.

He spent just two seasons at the French team before he moved onto an ill-fated two-year stint at McLaren.

Ricciardo’s deal with McLaren was announced in May of 2020 before the season had got underway after it was delayed due to the Covid pandemic.

Daniel Ricciardo has vowed to block out the outside noise ahead of the Vegas GP. Picture: Getty

Reflecting on Ricciardo’s decision in the Dans La Boite A Gants podcast, Abiteboul said the Perth racer’s move to quit Renault had been untimely and one which he had taken as a personal affront.

“He makes his decision in April or May, the world is at a standstill, we don’t know how we’re going to get back on track, if we’re going to get back on track,” Abiteboul recalled in the podcast, translated from French to English by Planet F1.

“In fact, I think it’s a very early move, a bit selfish - because in the end, it will have given the team just one season’s chance, and so it’s true that it’s a decision that I’m taking badly. Badly.”

Abiteboul added he took Ricciardo’s decision personally.

“Of course, because I can see that it’s a personal rejection,” he said.

“I take it completely personally. I accept it. And I can see what the consequences are going to be, too.”

Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul listens to driver Daniel Ricciardo at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. Picture: AP

Ricciardo claimed two podiums in his second season with Renault, in which he finished fifth in the drivers’ championship.

Abiteboul said Ricciardo’s decision to leave had been too hasty.

“The team was in the process of structuring itself and getting organised. We’re making progress, but that means we’re not at Red Bull’s level,” Abiteboul said.

“He came from the standard environment, Red Bull, and so inevitably there was a feeling of being demoted. It was difficult for him psychologically. In 2019, the Baku Grand Prix was absolutely horrendous, with him making mistake after mistake. In short, he’s completely out of his depth, and that’s complicated for us.

“I didn’t think it would be this difficult in 2019 and, conversely, I didn’t think that in 2020 there would be Covid, a global pandemic that would block us, and during which he would decide to end his contract at the end of the year.

Daniel Ricciardo had a nightmare run with Renault at the Baku Grand Prix in 2019. Picture: Getty

“And I don’t see it happening either that we (would) have such a good year in 2020, all the same, with podiums and a car that once again, by making a few less mistakes, could (have finished) third in the standings.

“I don’t think (Ricciardo) could have imagined the car making such progress, and neither could we. I can also understand his strategy. McLaren sold him a bit of a bill of goods to get him, but that’s part of the game. Ricciardo always has a timing problem; he left us too early and he left McLaren too early.”

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

Ricciardo is now focused on maximising his chances with AlphaTauri with an eye on a future Red Bull seat as the spotlight continues to shine on Sergio Perez.

The eight-time grand prix winner said blocking out the distractions off track in arguably the sport’s most hyped race in history would be the key to performing in Vegas.

“There’s going to be a lot going on apart from the track action, so I aim to stay in the zone and block out the distractions,” Ricciardo said.

Ricciardo soaks up the Las Vegas atmosphere. Picture: Getty

“It’s the balance of obviously trying to promote the weekend, promote the race and also enjoy some of the extra curricular things. The bottom line is I’m there to race, and that’s the thing I need to prioritise and focus on.

“Especially now we’ve closed the gap to Williams, getting points is so crucial and critical. I would say it’s a very simple approach. Res when I can rest, and then when I need to be on it, I’ll just focus and put my energy into that. If there’s a little bit of downtime, I’ll try not to keep my mind too occupied.

“It’s such a surreal city, especially at night with all the lights. I think it will feel like we are racing on a movie set, so that’ll be cool.”

LATE START

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is not only being held on a Saturday night instead of the traditional Sunday, but the race will also have the latest start time in history.

The race will start at 10 pm local time on Saturday, with qualifying to start even later at midnight on Friday, Vegas time.

Daniel Ricciardo will have to navigate the latest F1 start in history this weekend. Picture: Getty

The late timing means the grand prix is expected to be held in chilly temperatures after the sun has set in the desert, which drivers are predicting to be a big factor in the race.

“We know it’s going to be cold,” Ricciardo said.

“I think getting the tyres working and the car to produce enough grip with downforce will be a big key to getting some lap time out of it.”

World champion Max Verstappen said there would be lots of unknowns for the drivers and he was unsure how his Red Bull would handle the low temperatures at night.

“This race, of course, is a massive unknown for everyone, we don’t know what to expect, but we’ll approach it like we do any other weekend,” Verstappen said.

“We …. don’t have the historical data to look at and compare so there will be a lot to learn.

“The temperatures will also be very low on the track at night, so it will be interesting to see how the RB19 performs in these conditions.I’m looking forward to racing down the strip, too, that will look really cool.”

Originally published as F1 news: Former Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul labels Daniel Ricciardo ‘selfish’ over McLaren exit