Martin Brundle, the legendary F1 commentator, has shared his perspective on Daniel Ricciardo’s career trajectory since leaving Red Bull. In a recent column, Brundle expressed respect for both Ricciardo and Jacques Villeneuve, acknowledging the challenges of driving high-performance cars under intense scrutiny.
Brundle highlighted Ricciardo’s impressive track record, including eight Grand Prix wins and 32 podium finishes. However, he emphasized that these accomplishments occurred some time ago.
“Daniel has won eight GPs including an outstanding Monaco victory, scored 32 podiums, and has regularly shown world-class talent.
“But those results were quite a while ago and I wish he’d not left Red Bull at the end of 2018. That was an emotional and flawed decision, he should have faced up to Max in the best car, then he’d have necessarily raised his game even further.”
Brundle believes Ricciardo has never been “quite the same driver again” since leaving Red Bull.
“Ricciardo never seemed to be quite the same driver again,” he added. “
Brundle believes Ricciardo’s decision to leave Red Bull at the end of 2018 was emotional and flawed. Instead, he suggests that Ricciardo should have stayed and faced off against rising star Max Verstappen in the team’s best car, which would have pushed him to elevate his performance even further.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 Career Odyssey: From Red Bull to McLaren and Back
In a surprising move at the end of the 2018 F1 season, Daniel Ricciardo bid farewell to Red Bull Racing. His decision to leave the team that had nurtured his talent raised eyebrows across the Formula 1 paddock. But Ricciardo sought a fresh start, signing a two-year deal with Renault for the 2019 and 2020 seasons .
At Renault, Ricciardo faced new challenges. Although he secured a couple of podium finishes, the team’s performance wasn’t on par with Red Bull’s. Yet, his time at Renault allowed him to showcase his racecraft and determination.
In 2021, Ricciardo embarked on another adventure, joining McLaren. However, adapting to the team and car proved tougher than expected. Lando Norris consistently outperformed him, leaving Ricciardo searching for answers.
Fast forward to 2023, and Ricciardo found himself back in the Red Bull F1 family. As a reserve driver, he stepped in for Nyck de Vries at the Hungarian Grand Prix, rekindling his love for F1.
With Sergio Perez extending his contract at Red Bull until 2026, Ricciardo faces fresh opportunities and challenges. Can he recapture the form that made him a force to be reckoned with? Only time will tell.
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