Brundle: "McLaren becomes the giggle team with Ricciardo and Norris"

Het avontuur van Daniel Ricciardo bij Renault komt na het aankomende seizoen alweer ten einde. De Australische coureur zal naar McLaren verkassen en daar de plaats van Carlos Sainz innemen die naar Ferrari vertrekt. Of het een goede keuze is om Renault te verlaten zal pas na dit seizoen beoordeeld kunnen worden, maar tot dusver heeft Ricciardo niet echt veel plezier bij het Franse team gehad.

Seen something

At least that's what Martin Brundle says, who often comes into contact with the drivers on behalf of Sky Sports. In his reaction to today's seating dance, the Brit says: "He hasn't enjoyed it there [at Renault]. I barely remember seeing Daniel through last season. We used to see him all the time with that big flip-flop smile but for some reason it just didn't work for him there."

"The car didn't play on his speciality of last of the late-brakers. Maybe he fancies more that the McLaren and the incoming Mercedes engine [will be competitive], maybe he's concerned about where Renault will be in the future"

Ricciardo's departure comes fairly soon after his appointment and Brundle suspects that his decision to leave has another reason. "It's a bit of a sideways move but Daniel has obviously seen something at Renault that doesn't fill him with confidence into the future."

Giggle team

I'm sure McLaren won't be very happy about losing Sainz, but with Ricciardo they get a lot of experience."Daniel brings more experience and obviously a lot more race wins to McLaren. McLaren are probably thinking they've had a net gain depending on what they have to pay him."

With Lando Norris - who stays with McLaren for the time being - the team already has a joker in the house. Daniel Ricciardo is also known as a clown, so that could be something else. Brundle concludes his reaction: "It'll certainly be the giggling team with Daniel and Lando Norris!"