F1 2020, Imola Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo made mistake leaving Red Bull, McLaren switch could work, Martin Brundle says
Daniel Ricciardo made a “mistake” by leaving Red Bull, but has now found himself at the right destination in McLaren, F1 great Martin Brundle says.
Speaking to In the Fast Lane podcast, Brundle endorsed Ricciardo’s second team switch since 2018, when he shocked F1 by ending his long-term affiliation with Red Bull for mid-table Renault.
The new partnership, however, didn’t pan out and, with a drive at Mercedes and a return to Red Bull all but out of the equation for 2021, Brundle said Ricciardo made the right call in jumping ship while he could.
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“Unless somehow or other he can get into a Mercedes, where else would he go?” Brundle told the podcast.
“I can’t see him going back (to Red Bull). He probably should have stayed at Red Bull, but he felt all the love was in Max’s (Verstappen) direction and I can understand that completely,”
“Renault was a mistake which we all kind of suspected at the time, but I think that was him needing to get out of Red Bull as much as anything.”
While Red Bull is expected to take the fight to Mercedes in 2021, Brundle added that Ricciardo and McLaren could reap long-term rewards if they stay patient.
“I do believe if he’s got the patience, and they’ve got the patience, if he sticks with McLaren, that can take him back to the front of the field,” Brundle said.
The F1 season resumes this weekend with the second race of the year, taking place at Imola.
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