Reasons For Daniel Ricciardo To Move From Renault To McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo (Twitter @danielricciardo)

JAKARTA - Just a year to strengthen Renault, Daniel Ricciardo moved to McLaren for the Formula 1 season next year. Ricciardo was said to be too brave to take the risk of moving to the Woking-based team instead of staying at Renault, which is actually a factory team that has a larger facility and budget. But, this Australian racer certainly has a reason. What is that?

In fact, Ricciardo's first year at Renault was not exactly satisfying. He ended the 2019 season in ninth place, his worst result since 2013. He also scored only eight points without finishing on the podium.

Meanwhile, McLaren - who both used Renault's power units that season - rose to the top of the mid-table team, after their bad years with Honda. McLaren will leave Renault and switch to the Mercedes power unit, one of the most powerful and reliable engines on the grid, from 2021.

"They (McLaren) are the team that made the most votes, Mercedes won the championship again, but it is clear that McLaren is the team that made the most progress of all," Ricciardo said as reported by F1's official website, Monday, June 22.

"So that's really exciting for them and that's really what you can use as a basis for moving into the future,"

Daniel Ricciardo

Listen to @danielricciardo explain his thinking behind his 2021 switch to @ McLarenF1 # F1 https://t.co/hmIIzbnp4B

- Formula 1 (@ F1) June 21, 2020

Currently the racing season is still suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The 30-year-old racer will now undergo his second and final year with Renault when F1 will restart on July 5 in Austria.

Meanwhile, McLaren will be Ricciardo's fifth team in F1. Previously he debuted with HRT in 2011 before moving to Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Renault.

I am so grateful for my time with @ renaultf1team and the way I was accepted into the team. But we aren't done and I can't wait to get back on the grid this year. My next chapter isn't here yet, so let's finish this one strong. Merci pic.twitter.com/YFfzbwrgD7

- Daniel Ricciardo (danielricciardo) May 14, 2020