Red Bull and Renault could work together again - Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo is confident Red Bull and Renault would be able to get back on "good working terms" should they opt to rekindle their Formula 1 partnership in 2022.
Red Bull is on the lookout for a new power unit supplier from 2022 after existing partner Honda announced last week that it would be quitting F1 at the end of next year.
It has led to suggestions that Red Bull could link back up with Renault, the two parties having ended their partnership in 2018 after a turbulent period.
Ricciardo took all seven of his F1 wins while driving a Red Bull-Renault, before going on to join Renault's works team for 2019.
Asked by Motorsport.com if he thought Red Bull and Renault could collaborate in good way despite their past troubles, Ricciardo felt it could work.
"Obviously it's not really up to me to decide how that goes, but I do think they could," Ricciardo said.
"There are emotions, and then there's business, and there's time. Time heals a lot of things, and whether things weren't seeing eye to eye a few years ago or whatever it was, I don't think that will necessarily remain forever.
"If that's what ends up happening in the future, I think they can get back on good working terms. I never experienced anything that was irreparable, so I'm not concerned if that's what they do. I think they'll get on with it."
Red Bull is exploring a number of options over its future power unit supply in the wake of Honda's announcement, having learned it was considering a withdrawal back in August.
Ricciardo was confident Red Bull would be strong after Honda's exit despite a late change in supplier.
"If they're building a good car, they're going to get support, and they'll still have a chance to do that," Ricciardo said.
"Going by the past and the history and my experience there, I don't foresee anything they should be concerned about."
Ricciardo cited some concerns about the "unknowns" with Honda's arrival at Red Bull as being part of his decision to leave the team at the end of 2018.
But the Australian said he felt no vindication or justification of his decision following Honda's exit announcement.
"I honestly don't feel anything personal towards it," Ricciardo said.
"I'm not jumping around saying, 'oh yeah look, I was right'. It's nothing like that.
"As far as Red Bull and my relationship with them and a lot of personnel in the team, I kept that strong throughout. Even through my decision, I kept good relationships. I never wanted them to struggle or suffer.
"Now they've got a decision to make with what happens next. I don't really look at it in a personal light of me winning or losing. It's just the nature of the sport.
"There's always a chance. The sport, it's always changing so much, so there is a chance of stuff like this happens.
"I do hope they find a solution, a good one, and they stay afloat and keep becoming a rival for the rest of us."
Related video
Raikkonen says new Alfa F1 deal not signed yet
Verstappen "could feel" Honda's F1 exit was coming
Why Red Bull can win a Spanish GP that looked perfect for Ferrari
Formula 1's return to Spain on Friday ended with Ferrari leading the way from Mercedes, while Red Bull could only manage third fastest overall courtesy of Max Verstappen. But its chances of victory are far from remote with a deeper dig into the times despite Ferrari's strong start...
The key aspects of Porsche and Audi's planned F1 entries
The VW Group’s German superpowers of sportscar racing have all but confirmed they are coming to F1 when the next set of engine rules come into force in 2026. Here's why both manufacturers are all set to take the plunge, and crucially how it might work
How Vegas went from byword for F1 indifference to grand Liberty coup
Holding a race in Las Vegas – party central, a city of dreams and decadence and, yes, more than a smattering of tackiness – has been on Liberty Media’s most-wanted list since it acquired Formula 1’s commercial rights. But, as LUKE SMITH explains, F1 has been here before and the relationship didn’t work out
Why de Vries' FP1 outing could add a new path to his current crossroads
A Formula 2 and Formula E champion, Nyck de Vries is currently considering where his future in motorsport lies. Continuing in WEC and Formula E is possible and he's also courted glances Stateside after impressing in an IndyCar test. But ahead of his Formula 1 FP1 debut with Williams, he could have another option if he impresses...
Why Leclerc's crash shouldn't put off F1 drivers tasting history
OPINION: For a demo run ahead of Monaco's Historique Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was blessed with the opportunity to drive Niki Lauda's former Ferrari 312B3 - but a brake failure at Rascasse suggested Leclerc's Monaco hoodoo transcended contemporary F1. Although an awkward incident, Leclerc deserves credit for embracing F1's history.
Why the lack of "needle" between Red Bull and Ferrari is a mirage
OPINION: The fight for the 2022 Formula 1 world titles between Red Bull and Ferrari so far features little of the public animosity that developed between the former and Mercedes last year. But that isn’t to say things are full on friendly or won’t get much worse very quickly…
The underdog F1 squad that thrust Senna into the limelight
The Toleman TG184 was the car that could, according to legend, have given Ayrton Senna his first F1 win but for Alain Prost and Jacky Ickx at Monaco in 1984. That could be stretching the boundaries of the truth a little, but as STUART CODLING explains, the team's greatest legacy was in giving the Brazilian prodigy passed over by bigger outfits an opportunity
Why Aston Martin is unlikely to repeat Jaguar’s F1 mistakes
Two famous manufacturer teams born out of humble midfield origins, splashing the cash while attempting to rise to the top of F1 in record time. There are clear parallels between Lawrence Stroll’s Aston Martin and the doomed Jaguar Racing project of 22 years ago, but Mark Gallagher believes struggling Aston can avoid a similar fate.