Renault ‘don’t have an option’ on Ricciardo

Michelle Foster
Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo

Renault could lose Daniel Ricciardo at the end of this year with Alain Prost conceding they don’t hold the “cards” when it comes to the Aussie.

Ricciardo joined Renault at the start of 2019, swapping to the French manufacturer after five years with Red Bull Racing.

He signed a two-year deal that, unlike many contracts, does not have an option in place for a third season.

That means Ricciardo is a free agent should he wish to join a new team in 2021.

“Daniel has a contract until the end of 2020,” GrandPx.news quotes Renault’s Prost as having told Canal Plus. “So he is free.

“We don’t have the cards in our hands. We don’t have an option.”

The 30-year-old has been linked to a move to Ferrari should Sebastian Vettel not agree a new one-year contract.

However, one team Prost is confident Ricciardo won’t be considering is a return to Red Bull.

“Max Verstappen is completely anchored at Red Bull so I don’t see Daniel going there,” he said.

“But with us things are very open, and in any case what is certain is that in a certain way Daniel wants to continue.

“He made – not a bet – but let’s say a plan to be successful with Renault and for the moment we are talking in a very positive way.”

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Renault does have options available in its junior ranks such as Renault junior Christian Lundegaard, who was sixth in last year’s F3 championship.

Prost, though, is keen to continue with Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon rather than promote a young driver especially as motor sport’s hiatus lingers.

He added: “We don’t even know what’s going to happen for Formula 2 or Formula 3 or Formula Renault, where there are a lot of drivers in the sector and they can’t drive.

“So if they don’t race, then you can’t see them – you can’t judge them.

“It is valid for everyone and so the trend in the teams is a little more on the side of status quo.”

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