Abiteboul: We've been completely honest with Ricciardo

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul has said that the team has been honest and upfront in its contract talks with Daniel Ricciardo.

The Australian will move from Red Bull to the factory team in 2019. Abiteboul says Ricciardo knows exactly what he's getting himself into, and that the driver's decision wasn't the result of a late improved financial offer from the team.

"Our offer has been around for a while," he said. "[Daniel] decided very late that it was the way that he wanted to follow for himself.

"There has not been anything new on the our side in the last moments," he continued. "He knew the deal on the table in terms of financial arrangements.

"But also in terms of the team - the shape we are in, the responsibility that we have to be part of the construction of the team, and therefore of the car which is still not at the level of Red Bull - and will not be at the level of Red Bull next year.

"We've not done or said anything, we are extremely genuine, we are honest in the way that we are presenting the facts.

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"I have not suddenly made a representation or promise regarding next year, or what he will get regarding salary.

"It was just a thinking process in his own mind. He needed maybe the time a couple of days into the [summer] break to make this final decision."

Abiteboul suggested that Ricciardo's decision to leave Red Bull could at least in part be down to doubts over his current team's decision to change engine provider in 2019.

Red Bull will end its 12-year association with Renault at the end of this season and switch to Honda next season. But Ricciardo has decided to remain true to Renault.

"I don't think he was impressed by Red Bull's communications strategy, vis a vis Renault, vis a vis Honda, and how perfect Honda is," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com in Spa.

He said that Red Bull's continual criticism of Renault - with whom they have won four constructors titles in the past - hadn't gone down well in recent months.

"I think it's a bit unfair to Renault," Abiteboul complained. "I think Honda is progressing. But all the communication of Toro Rosso regarding Honda, when Honda has already introduced 11 or 12 power units.

"Frankly it's a joke, and unimpressive," he said, dismissing suggestions that Renault wanted to poach Ricciardo from Red Bull in a 'tit for tat' move.

"Frankly we don't think like that," he stated. "In F1 you are always in competition for something - for an engineer, for a sponsor, for a position in the championship, for drivers, for many other things."

Ricciardo will be replaced at Red Bull by Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman has a long association with Honda, including this year at Toro Rosso as the junior squad tested the ground with Honda engines ahead of Red Bull's change of suppliers next year.

"That they can influence a guy like Pierre Gasly I can understand," said Abiteboul. "And not a driver like Daniel Ricciardo, and that I respect."

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