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Christian Horner reveals why Daniel Ricciardo was never an F1 world champion
Former Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner believes Daniel Ricciardo “could have been world champion” if Red Bull had a more competitive car from 2014 to 2018. Ricciardo raced for Red Bull from 2014 to 2018 and won seven of his eight grand prix victories with the team. Despite being a fan favorite and outperforming Max Verstappen in 2017, Ricciardo felt frustrated as he couldn’t become Red Bull’s number one driver alongside Verstappen. He left the team at the end of 2018 for Renault, which did not provide him with a competitive car, leading to a move to McLaren in 2021.
His tenure at McLaren was mixed, with a notable win at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. However, poor performances compared to teammate Lando Norris led to his departure from McLaren at the end of the 2022 season. Ricciardo then returned to the Red Bull family but was later sacked by Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls in 2024, prompting his retirement from F1. Currently, Ricciardo is a global ambassador for Ford Racing, participating in various events across the racing calendar and engaging with fans through social media. His fans are hopeful that this role might pave the way for a reunion with the Red Bull team in the F1 paddock during a grand prix weekend in 2026.
