Renualt team boss takes thinly-veiled swipe at Daniel Ricciard amid impending exit

It appears Daniel Ricciardo's impending break-up with Renault will be far from smooth after the team boss took a thinly-veiled swipe at the departing Aussie star.

Ricciardo will leave Renault at the end of the 2020 season after a two-year spell to sign with McLaren from 2021 onwards.

While the French outfit had high hopes for Ricciardo when he arrived from Red Bull prior to the start of the 2019 season, the Aussie endured a torrid season, failing to win a Grand Prix for the first time since 2015.

Following confirmation of Ricciardo's exit, Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul appeared to question the Australian's loyalty in a bizarrely-worded statement.

"In our sport, and particularly within the current extraordinary situation, reciprocated confidence, unity and commitment are, more than ever, critical values for a works team," he said.

"I am confident that the 2020 season will allow us to accomplish even more together. Our ambitions and the strategy of Renault DP World F1 Team remain unchanged."

Ricciardo seemed to handle his impending exit with class, vowing to give his best for the team when the F1 is allowed to resume after the COVID-19 crisis.

"I am so grateful for my time with the Renault team and the way I was accepted into the team," he wrote in a Tweet.

"But we aren't done and I can't wait to get back on the grid this year. My next chapter isn't here yet, so let's finish this one strong."