Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo opens up on the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive, saying he had to ask himself one important question before coming to a decision regarding his future. Ricciardo who in 2018 made the sensational decision to leave Red Bull for Renault faced a similar last year when confronted with a choice to leave the French car maker for McLaren. The Australian says the answer to one key question made his mind up for him. "Can I win with all cars finishing? It still hurts to say this…the reality is no,” Ricciardo said on the Netflix series. "Deep down I knew I had to leave. "Last year there was always conversations going with McLaren. I think they made the biggest step out of any team in 2019. "I did take my age into account. I’m 31. I can’t afford to chance any more seasons. I just felt McLaren was in a better place than Renault was and that’s what drove me to that decision." Ricciardo's decision created tensions within the team as team principal Cyril Abiteboul took the decision quite badly. "Every single one of us at Renault, our focus is on the stability of the team," Abiteboul said on the show. "We need to be in a position for podiums and then fight for wins and then fight for championships – but Daniel has put a stop to all of that. "What’s hurting the most is it’s not the long-term project I thought we signed up for. Frankly, I think he’s making a mistake. "The drivers with the biggest results, biggest success have also been the ones that have been able to take the time and bring stability in their own life, in their own career. “Right now I have to accept our priority is to believe in the dynamic with Daniel." Despite the initial drama Ricciardo and Abiteboul were able to end their working relationship on an amicable note with the Australian finishing on the podium on two occasions during the 2020 F1 season. The Australian has also gotten off to a bright start at McLaren with the former Red Bull driver topping two of the three sessions he took part in. Abiteboul however, has not fared as well with the French engineer leaving Renault's rebranded Alpine project before the start of the season.
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