Webber expresses concern over Renault-move Ricciardo

Former F1 driver Mark Webber has expressed his concern over the move his fellow Aussie Daniel Ricciardo made, as the 29-year-old will drive for Renault from 2019 onwards, leaving Red Bull behind.

Webber, a former Red Bull driver himself, doesn't doubt the talents of Ricciardo, but he does doubt the ability from Renault to build a race-winning car in the next few seasons.

"He's absolutely world class, we know that, he's top-notch, he is one of the best on Sundays, there's no question about it," Webber told Fairfax Media.

"I hope it's an inspired decision [to go to Renault], we'll all have to sit back and watch, but the move is under a little bit of heat, it has to work for him."

Ricciardo has been a Red Bull driver for his entire F1 career so far, making the promotion from Toro Rosso to the Bulls in 2014, when Webber retired from the sport. He went on to win seven races since then, while having three separate teammates in that time; one season of Sebastian Vettel before he left for Ferrari, one season and a bit of Daniil Kvyat before he got demoted to Toro Rosso, and Max Verstappen, who has been there for over two years now.

Some people think that it's because of Verstappen that he left, as he wants to be the number one driver somewhere rather than scrapping with his teammate week in week out.

"He knows in the short term it's going to be [a step back]. He'll be behind Red Bull next year. He's banking on the long-term there. That's the concern.

"That's what you've got to do sometimes, you've got to be one step back, two steps forward.

"He has to be realistic about what's possible there and find out what he can realistically do with the time he's got left.

"He's got a lot of time left... but we all would like to see him in a more competitive situation than he's going to be in in the next two years."