Horner denies Alonso’s Red Bull contract offer claim

“One, they have never worked with me. I just felt part of the routine was causing that”. I felt it made my enjoyment for the sport a bit numb at times.

Five years with Red Bull Racing, 10 years with the company – obviously it’s been fantastic and great, I felt like now is that time to take on something new. It’s obviously been unbelievable and great and I just felt like now it’s time to take on something new.

The tension with Red Bull won’t be alleviated by Alonso’s behaviour in Friday’s press conference.

Meanwhile, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has claimed Ricciardo told him and team owner Dietrich Mateschitz during the Hungarian GP weekend that he meant to sign a contract extension. Speaking to Sky Sports in the TV pen on Thursday, Alonso claimed Horner had been in contact about the seat. “There was an agreement in principle”. Over Hockenheim and Hungary that happened.

“He’d even recorded the message announcing his renewal”. I told him: ‘Get to the point!

Horner was shocked by Ricciardo’s switch.

Horner and Red Bull chief Helmut Marko have insisted that Alonso’s claims are wide of the mark.

A popular train of thought is that Ricciardo wanted to dodge a linkup with Honda with the Japanese manufacturer still yet to get a full grip on the Formula 1 engine regulations.

“I was in the States”.

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul has said that the team has been honest and upfront in its contract talks with Daniel Ricciardo. “Let’s say, a bit more like an adult, a man about it”. It was OK, a call I had to make.

“I think the challenges are probably bigger than the challenges that I can find here for next year”.

He went on to state that the decision was not down to dissatisfaction with the team itself or how he saw himself within it.

There will be no more shoeys in Red Bull colours next year.

Ricciardo went on to give the real reasons behind his departure. The Spaniard, who stunned everyone with the declaration that he was quitting F1 at the end of the season, has been hampered all career by dodgy decision making. “If he could be in a competitive vehicle I’m sure they would prefer him staying”. Or why Casey Stoner retired from MotoGP very young. “There were a few sleepless nights but once I made the decision I feel comfortable with it”.

“From the outside people thought that, but hand on heart there was never any concern or sign of that”, Ricciardo said. (Red Bull owner, Dietrich) Mateschitz and me that he was OK with everything and that he was going to sign during the test on Tuesday. But Ricciardo has chose to remain true to Renault.

However, that did not happen, with Horner continuing: “He drove the auto on Tuesday in the test in Hungary, and then I think the flight to America on holiday he decided actually he wanted, despite having everything that he’d asked for, that it still didn’t feel right and that he wanted to do something else”.