Sat Sep 28 07:05:03 UTC 2024: ## Ricciardo’s Red Bull Departure Fueled by Broken Handshake Agreements, Claims Marko
**Singapore, September 20, 2024** – Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has accused former driver Daniel Ricciardo of breaking handshake agreements with both him and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz before leaving the team in 2018. Marko claims Ricciardo assured them he would sign a new contract with Red Bull, but ultimately chose to join Renault, citing concerns about the Honda engine.
Marko described the decision to leave Red Bull as a “turning point” in Ricciardo’s career, stating that the Australian had given his word to both him and Mateschitz before changing his mind. He added that Mateschitz, who died in 2022, was particularly upset by the broken promise.
Ricciardo, however, maintains that he has no regrets about leaving Red Bull, but acknowledges that he “probably” would have made a different decision in hindsight. He attributed his decision to his concerns about the Honda engine at the time.
Ricciardo’s departure from Red Bull marked the beginning of a decline in his performance, with the Australian struggling to regain his form with Renault and later McLaren. He returned to Red Bull’s junior team AlphaTauri in 2023, but his comeback proved unsuccessful, leading to his recent release from the team.
Marko has suggested that Ricciardo’s “killer instinct” has diminished in recent years, contributing to his struggles. Ricciardo himself has acknowledged the difficulty in keeping up with the younger generation of F1 drivers, citing advancements in technology and driver training as factors.
Despite his recent struggles, Ricciardo has confirmed that he has no plans to retire from F1, leaving the door open for a potential return in the future.
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