Damon Hill has fully backed Daniel Ricciardo's move to Renault. The former World Champion believes that the move could pay off for the Aussie and he understands his reasons for leaving Red Bull. Hill believes that if things go his way then Ricciardo could end up being a World Champion.
"I think he has lots of self-belief. He is one of the loveliest characters in the sport. He is a ray of sunshine. A lot of drivers go around with a big glum face. He always has a massive grin on but deep down there is a burning desire to win and he knows that his clock is running," Hill said to theage.com.
"He is 29 years old and, if you like, might have felt the emphasis, the backing, has all gone to the younger guy in Max Verstappen - and he is not having it. I think he is thinking: 'I am not going to be parked up and I have one more chance at it.'
"If I use a comparison to myself, when I was 29, I was out of a job and I became world champion a few years later. You have got to keep putting yourself forward and giving yourself the option of being No. 1. You don't want to be marginalised in this sport and be happy at No. 2 because that wouldn't sit well with Daniel Ricciardo. He would hate himself forever if he accepted that."
In the recent Netflix documentary, Christian Horner suggested that Ricciardo was running from a fight by leaving Red Bull. Hill thinks that this is nonsense.
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"Daniel Ricciardo is not afraid of a fight but I don't agree he left Red Bull because he couldn't beat Max Verstappen. He still believes he can beat Max Verstappen. He went to Renault because it helps if you have a team looking at you and you can then draw in all the talent that they have in the team around you. They have made an investment in him and they would be stupid to not listen to what he has to say."
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Austrian Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 26.06.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Practice 2
03:00 PM
Saturday 27.06.26
Practice 3
10:30 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 28.06.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 26.06.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 27.06.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 28.06.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
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F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 156 | |
2 | FerrariFER | 115 | |
3 | MercedesMER | 106 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 75 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 73 | |
6 | McLarenMCL | 70 | |
7 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 55 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 37 | |
9 | AlpineALP | 32 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 28 |
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