Martin Brundle - Daniel Ricciardo faces McLaren axe if results do not improve soon

Martin Brundle is of the opinion that Daniel Ricciardo could lose his McLaren seat for 2023 if results do not improve quickly for him.

The Australian joined McLaren for the start of the 2021 season in what looked an eye-catching move but thus far, excluding the win at the Italian Grand Prix last year, he has had little to write home about.

Indeed, it’s proven a real head-scratcher as to why he’s struggled so much since arriving in the team as he is a multiple Grand Prix winner and supreme talent, but ultimately that counts for little if the present is sub-par and Brundle believes the next few races could be make or break for Ricciardo in terms of his future with the team.

Speaking to News Corp, Brundle explained that Ricciardo needs some good results quickly to quieten down the speculation around his future and if that does not happen it might be the case, and for the best, that the Aussie and his current team part company for next year.

“They can’t take this into 2023,” Brundle said.

“The team is too big and there’s too much at stake.

“Three strong results to show he’s still got it will help everybody relax. Otherwise, I can imagine both parties sitting down at the end of the year or before the end of the year saying, this is not working. This is not working for us.

“That will certainly be tough for Ricciardo, who can’t blame all of his troubles on the car.”

It would be a real shame for this partnership to not work out but sometimes that happens in Formula 1.

Ricciardo himself has admitted in recent times things are not going how he would like but he’s still working hard, and hopefully results will begin to turn in the near future.