**Daniel Ricciardo Accused of Breaking Handshake Agreements Before Leaving Red Bull**

In a recent assertion, Helmut Marko, Red Bull's senior advisor, has accused Daniel Ricciardo of breaking handshake agreements with both him and the late Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of Red Bull, prior to Ricciardo's departure from the team at the end of the 2018 F1 season. This accusation adds another layer to the complex narrative of Ricciardo's departure from a team where he enjoyed significant success.

Ricciardo, an Australian racing driver, left Red Bull in 2018- a decision which surprised many, considering his successful tenure with the team from 2014 to 2018, during which he secured seven of his eight career victories. This unexpected move came shortly after Red Bull announced a new partnership with Honda for the 2019 season, which saw his then-teammate, Max Verstappen, win three consecutive World Championships starting in 2021. Despite Ricciardo's bold move to join Renault in 2019, his career since then has been marked by struggles, including an underwhelming stint with McLaren and a challenging return with Red Bull's junior team, VCARB.

Helmut Marko described Ricciardo's decision to leave Red Bull as the pivotal moment in his career, explaining that both he and Mateschitz had received verbal assurances from Ricciardo of his commitment to stay with the team. Marko recalled an event in Graz where this commitment was sealed with a handshake, only for Ricciardo to later have second thoughts, largely due to reservations about the incoming Honda engine. This change of heart, influenced by Renault and its then-managing director Cyril Abiteboul, displeased Mateschitz, who highly valued the integrity of a handshake agreement.

Ricciardo, reflecting on his decision during an interview at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, acknowledged that while he doesn't regret his choice at the time, he might have decided differently if given another chance. Following VCARB's recent decision to drop him, he remains adamant that he has no regrets and cherishes his journey in the sport.

Helmut Marko also commented on Ricciardo's decline, mentioning that his "killer instinct" seemed to have faded in the latter years of his racing career. Even though Red Bull welcomed Ricciardo back in 2023, they struggled to reignite his former spark. Marko admitted that the inability to consistently perform at a high level, especially in comparison to the emerging young talents, played a significant role in Ricciardo's gradual fade from prominence.

At 35, Ricciardo himself admitted that he finds it challenging to keep up with the younger, more technologically adept drivers. However, he prefers to leave the sport on a positive note, recalling the fun and remarkable moments of his career rather than seeing it descend into an ongoing struggle.