Daniel Ricciardo is about to enter his final race weekend as a Red Bull driver before he makes the move to Renault for 2019, and the Australian has revealed that the aftermath of the race will be emotional for him.
During his five year stay with Red Bull, he has managed seven race wins, but is leaving the team in the search of a car that can provide him with an opportunity to complete his ultimate dream: To win the F1 world title.
The move to Renault may seem a strange one with this goal but Ricciardo believes in their long term plan.
However, he admits there was some difficult in making the decision.
He said: "I know the next part of my journey won't always be easy, but I had to take this step to try to be the best version of me. That's all it was. It was the next step, the next leap, a new challenge.
"I'm going to Renault next year, and I'm going with an open mind and a full heart. Nobody has a crystal ball, or can predict the future or the results of my decision, but nonetheless a decision was made.”
Ricciardo knows that it will be a tough moment on the heart after his time at Red Bull is up.
He added: “Each lap I turn in the car will mean one lap closer to my last in a Red Bull race suit. And when I get out for the final time in Abu Dhabi, I think I'm going to have a right good cry. Maybe a few of 'em. Then winter will come, I'll go meet my new Renault friends, and I'll start anew."