Daniel Ricciardo "didn't get to a point" where he regretted Renault move

Ricciardo made the switch to Renault for 2019 having been at Red Bull for five years but admitted that it was difficult adjusting to a car with less downforce than he was used to.
 
The Australian gradually found what he was looking for throughout the season, topping teammate Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying and points, with a highest finish of P4 in Monza.
 
“At the start of the year after Bahrain I was a bit down, albeit it was only the second race of the year,” said Ricciardo as quoted by MotorsportWeek.
 
“I was more down on my performance in terms of … it is not that easy to come in and bring this car up.
 
“The reality of me reaching my potential in a car that was difficult, at times I was like this is not going to be as easy as I thought.
 
“But then Shanghai and that was a good weekend. That was the best of the rest weekend.
 
“I didn’t get to a point where I regretted it [joining Renault] or was questioning it. But [it was] more on myself. Can I do this?
 
“With Nico, he is experienced and has been in the midfield pack for a long time, and I could already see that, and I was like I can’t let him build too much confidence early because it is just going to get harder for me.
 
“So I was aware that I had to figure it out quickly.”
 
Despite the ups and downs Ricciardo was satisfied with his season after his switch from a top team.

“Relatively speaking I am ok with this season. It was always going to be difficult,” he added.
 
“Coming into a new team, people have done it before so it is not impossible to do. But coming from a higher level car to a lower… coming into a car with more grip is normally easier.
 
“There are more expectations, but it does more things that you wanted it to do.
 
“That is easier than going from Red Bull to here. How I adapted to that, I was quite happy, but in a few races, I was not happy with myself, I expected more, but I developed well.”