Sport Ricciardo revealing take on dumped F1 teammate

© AAP Ricciardo's Renault teammate Nico Hulkenberg Aussie Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has opened up about the departure of former Renault teammate Nico Hülkenberg.

Hülkenberg will be officially let go by the French team after this season and is set to be replaced by Esteban Ocon. Immediately after the year-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ocon will begin testing with his new team.

Ricciardo welcomed his new teammate in an interview posted on F1's website and said that Hülkenberg was "cool" since splitting with Renault.

"He's cool," Ricciardo said.

F1 stars' amazing show of support for Aussie prodigy

Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen have all come to the aid of injured Aussie F3 driver Alex Peroni.Peroni was hurt when his car was launched off a kerb in Italy in September, landing upside down on a barrier at over 200kmh. A fractured vertebrae was his most serious injury, leaving him in a back brace for three months.

We've had all kinds of F 1 teammates this season; drivers at front-running teams who played little more than support roles (whether they wanted to or not); teammate One-lap pace was all Verstappen too, finishing the year well ahead of Ricciardo despite qualifying behind him in two of the final three races.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo says Max Verstappen is the only Formula 1 team - mate he has had so far that he feels can challenge him. They have been paired up at Red Bull since Verstappen was promoted from junior squad Toro Rosso to the senior team ahead of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, which he won.

"I certainly think he still has time in the sport if he wants it. His ability is certainly there to do it.

"I don't fear for him if he doesn't come back to F1. He's a pretty switched on kid, he's quite business savvy so if he goes on to do other things he'll be OK."

One of the qualities that Ricciardo praised about Hülkenberg was his laidback nature which made their working relationship "easy", something which was not always the case with the West Australian's old teammate at Red Bull, Max Verstappen.

"It's been pretty easygoing," Ricciardo said.

"He has been easy to work with, does what he has to do and doesn't really kick up a fuss.

"Also I do believe coming into the season we both had respect for each other and I think that helps, as far as we don't feel the need to do anything weird. I don't want to say I've had that in the past, I haven't had that, but it made the transition of me coming into this team quite easy.

Ricciardo reveals hidden downside of Renault switch

Australia's Daniel Ricciardo has spoken of the extra problems he faces now that he's not part of the front-running Red Bull team.Having been accustomed to running at the front of the field in his Red Bull days, Ricciardo has often found himself on the fringes of the top 10 during 2019, following his switch to the Renault team.

Daniel Ricciardo tells C4 F 1 that teenager Max Verstappen is the most challenging teammate he's faced. Daniel Ricciardo says his teenage rival Max Verstappen is the toughest teammate he’s faced during “I don’t want to take anything away from Seb - he is and was and still is a great driver - but I

Daniel Ricciardo is eager to take on reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as his future teammate as he begins to weight up his options in the sport. Ricciardo , who graduated into F 1 via the Red Bull junior programme and is set to start his fifth campaign at the Milton Keynes-based squad

"Pre-season, we had a bit of a laugh, after the races we might go see each other and have a drink at a party."

Life at Renault has not been smooth-sailing for the Ricciardo since leaving Red Bull. He went from regularly challenging for F1 podium finishes to battling to stay inside the top 10.

Ricciardo is currently ninth in the drivers' standings.

Ocon most recently served as a reserve driver for Mercedes, but at Renault alongside Ricciardo he has a chance to make a name for himself. The Aussie doesn't expect the pair to be "best mates" but was hopeful of a relationship with "competitive respect".

"I'm sure he does respect me, but will he want to come in and set himself up in the team? Absolutely," Ricciardo said.

"Again, there'll be that competitive respect - as long as there's that. I want to beat him, he wants to beat me, we're not silly. We've done this thing once or twice before, but as long as there's respect for each other that's what we need.

"We don't need to be best mates either but we'll get on with it and try to get it going."