Daniel Ricciardo needs a win with Renault

Daniel Ricciardo made his Formula 1 debut in 2011 behind the wheel of a modest HRT. Since then, he has climbed the ranks, but the world championship title still eludes him.

Daniel Ricciardo is known for his optimism and patience, even when races don't go his way, making him one of the most popular personalities in the very closed world of Formula 1. In 2020, the Renault driver will begin his tenth season in the sport, having won seven Grand Prix races and three pole positions to date. While these figures may seem modest for a driver who will reach the 180-race milestone in the first round of the 2020 season, the Perth native is still hungry for victories and makes no secret of his ambition to bring Renault back to the top of the standings. Their first year together in 2019 was, by both parties' admission, disappointing: no podium finishes and a fourth place in Canada, their best result, failed to meet expectations. Ricciardo recently stated that he never imagined reaching the age of 30 without having won at least one world title, and he believes that the choices he has made are the right ones to achieve that goal.

With Max Verstappen firmly established at Red Bull and a car that struggled to find its rhythm throughout the season, Ricciardo has chosen to make a fresh start at Renault from 2019. He has signed a two-year contract that includes an exit clause after 2020, giving him the freedom to take up any interesting offers that may come his way. The real question is how he can turn things around for a team that is still rebuilding, and whether he will stay long enough to reap the rewards of his efforts. If Ricciardo continues to support the French project, an extension would be essential for the team to capitalize on his efforts. Although he may look elsewhere, realistic options are limited: only Mercedes and Ferrari currently offer a realistic chance of winning races, and a return to Red Bull now seems unlikely.

History shows that stability is often the foundation of success: Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, Michael Schumacher at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull. Younger stars such as Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have already signed long-term contracts with their teams, recognizing the value of continuity. Ricciardo's move to Renault was certainly a bold decision. Now that he has set himself the task of bringing the French team back to the top, he will have to prove that he is capable of delivering on his promises, especially as the team has already tasted victory at the highest level. Daniel Ricciardo answers fans' questions: https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGHSifbfomg