Daniel Ricciardo's future was a hot topic of discussion during Thursday's press conference in Belgium.

Since it was confirmed the Aussie will move to Renault next year, fans and pundits alike have been keen to find out what motivated him to make a move - that on paper at least - looks a like a step backwards.

On Thursday, he was asked whether current Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen had influenced his decision to leave at all.

“No, I guess is the short answer,” Ricciardo said.

“I think externally, around media and maybe some fans perspective, that might be seen as the case, but, honestly, internally… you know obviously there was Baku and that we had an incident and a couple of on-track things, but it was more around ourselves.

“But… equality went within the team. As I said, probably from the outside people probably thought that, but honestly, hand on heart, there was never any concern with that or any sign of that. So I guess no is the answer."

However, it would appear not everyone was convinced by his answer.

Sat next to Ricciardo was Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz.

And some fans picked up on the fact they were both caught smiling shortly after the Australian had finished denying the rumours.

It has been reported one of them was also picked up on the microphone whispering: "How well the bastard bulls***s" in their native Spanish.

If you turn up the volume in the video below, you can just about make out the whisper.

It's probably worth pointing out, it isn't being suggested there was any malice or nastiness behind the comment.

Nonetheless, Ricciardo went onto say that his decision to leave Red Bull was also based on the desire for a change of scene.

“We don’t have a 9-to-5 job and we’re not going to the same office every day, but (there’s) many years of going to the same factory, that kind of routine.

“I guess part of that process, that routine, I don’t want to say it was getting the best of me but it was having a little bit of an effect on me.

“When I weighed it up, a change of setting, a new challenge is probably the answer I need.”