Renault has confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo will join the team from the 2019 season, teaming up with Nico Hulkenberg.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ricciardo, who hails from Perth, Australia, joins Renault for the next two seasons.

He has secured seven Grands Prix wins and stepped onto the podium 29 times. He is already very familiar with the Renault family, having driven in Renault junior series between 2007 and 2011 and has been powered by Renault engines in F1 since 2014.

"It was probably one of the most difficult decisions to take in my career so far," admits Ricciardo. "But I thought that it was time for me to take on a fresh and new challenge.

"I realise that there is a lot ahead in order to allow Renault to reach their target of competing at the highest level but I have been impressed by their progression in only two years, and I know that each time Renault has been in the sport they eventually won. I hope to be able to help them in this journey and contribute on and off track."

"Renault decided to come back to Formula One to fight for World Championships," said Jerome Stoll, President, Renault Sport Racing. "Signing Daniel Ricciardo is a unique opportunity for the Groupe Renault towards this objective that could not be missed. We welcome Daniel's arrival to our team, still in the making, but more motivated than ever."

"Daniel's signing underscores our determination to accelerate our progress towards the forefront of the sport," added Cyril Abiteboul. "It is also a recognition of the work accomplished over the past two and a half seasons. Daniel's undoubted talent and charisma are a huge bonus and statement for the team. We will have to repay his faith in us by delivering the best car possible. We welcome him to our growing team in 2019 with a great deal of pride, but also humility."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Tardis40, 05/08/2018 12:11

"Good on Renault. Looking forward to see what he can do with their car."

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 05/08/2018 11:32

"@BGP73 - I think you're right. I've long suspected that some of Newey's packaging and aero tweaks may be causing issues for the Renault PU.

I hope this works-out for Daniel, as he is one of the "good guys" - very fast, yet consistent, and a demon (but canny) over-taker. He deserves to have a shot in a better car, which hopefully Renault will produce in the next couple of seasons.

Leaving RBR was inevitable at some stage. It's clear that Verstappen is the clear favourite at that team, and so Daniel would inevitably have ended-up, like Webber, with slightly inferior equipment playing 2nd fiddle to the lad."

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3. Posted by FQITW, 04/08/2018 10:13

"This could be a canny move..."

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4. Posted by BillH, 03/08/2018 20:46

"I did not expect this move by Ricciardo and am ambivilant to how it will play out. It could be a stroke of genius or it could mean midfield and occasional podiums. The future I've found is one of the hardest things to predict.
A key for any driver should be what Adrian Newey gets up to. The success he has is incredible.
Either Sainz or Gasly could end up at Red Bull next year or they could as others have posted go for Alonso, though, I feel that Verstappen is Red Bull's favoured steerer and that could have been a factor in Ricciardo moving on, more so that what Honda does.
I don't know Hulkenburg however I haven't heard that he backs down from a challenge.
Maybe Ricciardo just saw that it is getting harder and harder for customers to win vs. manufacturers"

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5. Posted by JClark-Monza1967, 03/08/2018 18:02

"Well, just when you think things are going to proceed more or less as expected in the driver market, something like this happens to shake things up! Not such a "silly season" after all ;-)! One thing I give Renault credit for: they have been brutally honest about their projected development schedule since they came back as constructors. They said from the start that it would take at least 5 years before they could complete at the front, they've showed slow but steady progress, so nothing yet to doubt them. OTOH, there hasn't been anything particularly exciting, either. Have to wonder how this will play out for Hulkenberg. He'll have to raise his game to keep up with Ricciardo."

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6. Posted by Peter Rickitt, 03/08/2018 17:05

"Quite right, Daniel - did you read my post of 12th Julny (can you repeat it at the end of this post ? It sets out why he is right) ?!
Good luck- you have made the right decision and will be alot happier, with a manufacturer who means business - well done"

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7. Posted by BGP73, 03/08/2018 16:04

"Funny how given his current boss's attitude Daniel has elected to sign for the alleged source of all Red Bulls problems, I haven't checked but Red Bull seem to have suffered a disproportionate level of engine failures compared to Renault and McLaren this season, could the problem lie with Red Bull and not Renault? It will be interesting to watch the relative performance of these 2 teams next season. It is a bold decision by Daniel, lets hope his optimism is matched by results. "

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Official: Ricciardo to partner Hulkenberg at Renault

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