Ricciardo plays down “running from a fight” suggestion

Daniel Ricciardo has played down suggestions that he was “running from a fight” in his move to leave Red Bull and join Renault for 2019.

In the filming for Netflix’s documentary on the 2018 F1 season, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner questioned Ricciardo’s decision to leave and whether it was because he didn’t want to battle it out with Max Verstappen.
 
According to The Telegraphin one-episode Horner says: “my assumption is that he is running from a fight.”
 
Ricciardo has responded and can see how and/or why people think that but insists that it is not the case.
 
Ricciardo said in an interview with Australian media outlet EFTM: "Firstly, and I'm sure he's not the only one who has that opinion, I can see how people might want to think that or say that.

"Everyone has an opinion. That hasn't been pulled out of nowhere. It is what is – I obviously say no, not true. I love a good fight.

"It was more about me than Max. It was about me, a lot of reasons.

"One, I've stated a few times and I think some people will understand it, I was at Red Bull five years.

"They'd won four world titles and I joined straight after that. In five years, looking from that first year, I'm going to win a world title. That's going to happen.

"It didn't and we never really got close. I'm not bitter about it, that's what happened.

"My ability to become more frustrated in this environment was too high and I just don't want to be that kind of unhappy, bitter person that's just always 'what could have been', or 'if only I've joined Red Bull in 2013'.

"So, it wasn't about Max. [But] I understand how some people might think that."