Red Bull won't let Ricciardo test 2018 Renault
Red Bull Racing will not allow Daniel Ricciardo to drive for his future team Renault in the Pirelli tyre test that follows the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The test is the only opportunity for drivers who are changing camps to gain on-track experience with their new teams before proper 2019 testing kicks off in February.
For those drivers making 'friendly' moves, such as Charles Leclerc to Ferrari, Pierre Gasly to Red Bull and George Russell to Williams, testing for their new teams is a no-brainer.
However, Red Bull has turned down Renault's request to make Ricciardo available.
"I'm not allowed to test," the Australian said in Austin. "I can't drive for Red Bull and they won't let me drive for Renault.
"So it is okay. I can have a holiday."
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said that it was a question of Ricciardo fulfilling his contractual obligations.
"He's under contract past that date, so he won't be doing the test," Horner told Motorsport.com.
"There was a question, 'Is he available?' It's very clear that he's not, so it's very simple. They just asked what his availability was, and he's not available.
"He's still got obligations to tidy up until the end of his contract."
Sauber is still hoping that Ferrari will give Kimi Raikkonen permission to do the Abu Dhabi test with the Swiss outfit.
"We will have to discuss the point," team principal Fred Vasseur told Motorsport.com. "It makes sense for us, I think it make sense for everybody.
"For every single team it makes sense to have the feedback from the next driver. We will discuss, we are not in a rush. We can discuss in Abu Dhabi!"
Antonio Giovinazzi will drive for Sauber in the single-team Pirelli test that follows the Mexican GP.
Share Or Save This Story
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Daniel Ricciardo shares heartfelt message after first Indy 500 visit brought back "childhood feelings"
Lando Norris reunites with Daniel Ricciardo for Indy 500 celebrations after disastrous Canadian GP
Daniel Ricciardo says life feels "more real" after abrupt F1 exit
Pedro Acosta told KTM he wants to beat Marc Marquez on the same MotoGP bike
What made Red Bull so fast in the Azerbaijan GP after Max Verstappen’s qualifying issue
Has George Russell hit his stride too late? 'With this form I would have been in the fight'
F1 pundit slams Franco Colapinto's "outrageous" Baku crash but rejects Lando Norris's race ban call
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments