Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has justified his surprise decision to leave Red Bull for Renault next year by saying he simply needed a change of scenery.

But teammate Max Verstappen was not convinced.

“If it is a change of scenery, I’m not sure if it’s the best scenery to go to,” the 20-year-old Dutchman told reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix on Thursday.

Ricciardo has won two races with Red Bull so far this season but will join a team further down the pecking order that last won a race a decade ago, even if it is moving back up.

Red Bull is switching from Renault to Honda engines in 2019, and Ricciardo’s decision has been seen by some as a sign that he was not convinced by what the Japanese manufacturer could offer.

Ricciardo denied he had felt “unloved” at Red Bull, although Verstappen is held up as a champion-in-waiting at that team, and said there were no hard feelings.

Red Bull’s change to from Renault to Hondo engines is believed to have affected Ricciardo’s decision. Photo: Getty

“To be clear, there was no falling out, no bad blood with anyone in the team, the bosses or anyone,” he told a news conference, adding that it had not been an easy decision to make.

“I felt I was ready for a change, a new challenge and just for me personally some fresh motivations,” he added.

“A few sleepless nights for sure trying to come up with the best conclusion for myself.”

He said he had still been unsure during the Hungarian race weekend at the end of July but made up his mind during the following days.

“Once I pulled the trigger I felt comfortable with it. It feels right,” he added.

Ricciardo agreed Honda still needed to prove itself, but said Renault also contained an element of risk and the key factor had been him “wanting to have a change of scenery” after 10 years in the Red Bull family.

Verstappen, who has one win this year, suggested the Australian should have waited.

“Of course everybody has moments in their career where you’re frustrated or you’re not happy with the current situation,” he said.

“I think everybody here wants to win races or wants to win championships, but sometimes it’s not like that and you have to really be patient and work hard for it.”

Verstappen and Ricciardo, who will be replaced by Frenchman Pierre Gasly, got along well as teammates and the Australian indicated he would miss that.

Daniel Ricciardo alongside Pierre Gasly (L) and Fernando Alonso ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix. Photo: Getty

“If he starts calling Pierre the best teammate he ever had my heart will be broken,” he said, grinning.

Ricciardo’s decision to quit Red Bull drew parallels with championship leader Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013.

Like Hamilton, Ricciardo will leave a private team to join a manufacturer. Hamilton has sealed three of his four world championships with Mercedes, while McLaren have failed to win a race since he left.

“A lot of people in life are scared of change,” Hamilton said.

“They get stuck in a space, but they get by, so it is cool to see Daniel willing to elevate himself, go and try something new, and learn from it, good or bad, and take the risk.”

-AAP