Ricciardo unsure of 2021 plans but hopeful for shoey “in a yellow car”

Daniel Ricciardo has said he doesn’t have “anything written down” with Renault for 2021 as of yet but wants a successful 2020, being hopeful for a shoey “in a yellow car”.

Ricciardo made the switch to Renault from Aston Martin Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2018 season, wanting a fresh start at a new team.
 
But the French manufacturer were unable to replicate and progress from their successful 2018 where they finished fourth in 2019, struggling with performance and ending up fifth behind McLaren.
 
The Australian is contracted until the end of this year with them and is yet to sit down and discuss, but wants to make it work with the team.

 “I don’t have anything written down with Renault beyond this year but whatever may or may not come in the next few months, or over the course of the year, I’m 100% committed to still making this work with Renault,” he said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“I haven’t thought about scenarios yet of being somewhere else. I do feel like last year was a bit of an unknown, but I do feel this year there is much more in place to get this thing on the right track, and to kind of tick some of the boxes that I thought we would tick when I signed the contract.

“I do believe there is a shoey in here somewhere in a yellow car. I do believe that, so yeah I’m certainly all in, to make those things come to fruition, you know.

“For me personally as well I do want it to work. I do want this year to be successful. So regardless of what was to happen you know, I could hold my chin high and be like you know, we really gave this an awesome crack. And ideally, the crack continues.”

Renault’s F1 non-executive director Alain Prost isn’t so confident about their 2020 and that what 2021 can offer Ricciardo will ultimately make his mind up.

 
“For sure this year, we have to say the truth,” said Prost.

“We don’t have a high expectation about this year, so it’s a shame for Daniel, the second year with not a lot that is going to be better.

“I think it’s going to be more his perception of what we could do for 2021, and also being realistic about the offers he is going to have from other teams.

“He will decide by himself but we will talk very soon. We don’t have everything in our hands, that’s for sure.”