Ricciardo to show true colours for Renault

Daniel Ricciardo may not agree with Renault's colours but he has no other complaints about his new team ahead of this weekend's Formula One opener in Melbourne.

The only complaint Daniel Ricciardo has about his lucrative Renault move is that the team's yellow and black colours remind him of AFL club Richmond.

But it's a minor quibble for the devout West Coast fan compared to the dramas he left behind at Formula 1 rivals Red Bull.

Perth-born Ricciardo said donning the new colours for the first time since his shock exit from Red Bull "feels right" ahead of his Renault debut at this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Even after he was reminded that it may give the wrong idea to Tigers fans in AFL-made Melbourne.

"I have worn a navy blue race suit for Red Bull since 2008, since I was a junior," he said.

"But it (Renault suit) doesn't feel strange, weird or awkward - it feels right."

Ricciardo didn't change his tune even when told by reporters Renault's colour scheme shared that of Richmond - not his beloved Eagles.

"It actually got brought up in testing two weeks ago (in Spain) and up until that time it just had not even clicked," Ricciardo laughed.

"But if I see some Richmond jerseys around Albert Park this weekend I will consider them friends."

Ricciardo has little else to complain about since ditching Red Bull after falling out with co-driver Max Verstappen.

The Australian star didn't bag his former team but the full extent of the tension at Red Bull last year has been brought to light by the recently released Netflix documentary "Formula 1: Drive To Survive".

Ricciardo is clearly frustrated in the film with his treatment by Red Bull, believing he is playing second fiddle to Verstappen.

It came to a head when the pair crashed at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Ricciardo was roasted by team advisor Helmut Marko then asked to apologise to the Red Bull outfit despite the Australian believing he was not in the wrong.

Team boss Christian Horner didn't help when he says in the film that Ricciardo wanted to leave Red Bull because he was "running from a fight" with Verstappen.

But it appears there is no bad blood at Renault for Ricciardo.

Snapping up a deal reportedly worth $A49 million a year - almost triple what he earned at Red Bull - no doubt helped.

"We are on the same page," Ricciardo said of his new Renault teammate Nico Hulkenberg.

"From a personal level I get on with Nico. It's been an easy going start."

Ricciardo refused to take a swipe at Red Bull but admitted he wouldn't be taking any particular interest in their progress this year.

"I got asked at testing 'how much will you be watching Red Bull' but honestly no more than I am watching every other team," he said.


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Source: AAP



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