Ex-F1 driver claims Daniel Ricciardo should have ‘faced up to Max Verstappen’ and not left Red Bull in 2018

Daniel Ricciardo has managed to triumph in only a single Grand Prix since leaving Red Bull.

Ex-F1 driver claims Daniel Ricciardo should have ‘faced up to Max Verstappen’ and not left Red Bull in 2018

Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Former British F1 driver, Martin Brundle has argued that Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo made the wrong decision upon leaving Red Bull in 2018. Ricciardo left the team at the end of the 2018 season to join Renault Racing (Alpine).

Daniel Ricciardo has not been at the level of his former brilliant self. Since he departed from the Milton-Keynes outfit he has managed to triumph in only a single Grand Prix. The talented Australian driver continues to perform in a scrutinizing manner for RB, despite a few good performances in Shanghai and Montreal.

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SkySports commentator, Martin Brundle talked about Daniel Ricciardo, saying that the eight-time race winner should have continued at Red Bull despite fierce competition from then-teammate Max Verstappen, who has been a dominant force winning three world championships in the last three years. Ricciardo is said to have left the Austrian outfit in hopes of finding more personal ground on the grid after staying on the team as a second driver to Max Verstappen.

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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. Ricciardo never seemed to be quite the same driver again.
Martin Brundle wrote in a column for SkySports F1

Brundle has spoken of the need for Ricciardo to look within his abilities and figure out the hindrances in his race craft, as the 34-year-old driver still possesses the skills and pace to be a competent force in F1. The current RB driver has been rumored to have started negotiations for a new contract with the team in fro next year.

Daniel Ricciardo reflects on his struggles off-track this season

Daniel Ricciardo has opened up about his struggles before a race and given insights into the external factors affecting his performance. The 34-year-old has not been at his sensational best with RB and continues to struggle with pace and points this year.

Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo (via IMAGO)
I was always looking at the on-track stuff, 'I can brake later here, or do this and that'. But it was like OK, what are some other things that are affecting my performances? I sat back and had a look at maybe the things I am doing wrong away from the track, maybe giving too much time away to people and by the time I get to race day, I'm a little bit more flat.
Daniel Ricciardo opened up in an interview with AutoSport

The eight-time Grand Prix winner has reflected on the state of his mind before a race and thinks that he has been devoting more time to people off-track, which has made him go flat with his focus on multiple occasions before a race. The Australian driver has hence voiced his motive to stay calm before races and not pay much heed to the naysayers.

Daniel Ricciardo qualified P5 in the Canadian Grand Prix, which was a breath of fresh air for him. He finished the race in Montreal in P9, which is a good result for him and the team after a disappointing performance a few weeks back in Monaco.

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