Martin Brundle praises ‘pretty smart move’ from F1 team to hire ‘very brave’ driver

Martin Brundle has commended McLaren’s decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo with Oscar Piastri for the upcoming 2023 Formula 1 season. Brundle shared his thoughts while responding to fan queries on the Sky Sports F1 website. In contrast to the general lack of driver movements in 2023, Nyck de Vries was the sole exception, being replaced by Ricciardo after just ten races.

After a challenging period seeking a return to the sport, Ricciardo joined AlphaTauri in Hungary, albeit missing five Grand Prix due to a broken hand. The previous year witnessed more substantial driver reshuffling, with Ricciardo and others, including Mick Schumacher, facing setbacks.

Despite the inherent risks of hiring Piastri, who had only tested an F1 car without racing experience, Brundle praised McLaren’s choice to bring him in from Alpine. Piastri has since justified this decision, earning acclaim from Brundle for his “very brave” driving style during commentary.

Discussing the 22-year-old, Brundle expressed approval of McLaren’s move, stating, “You have to say McLaren replaced him with Piastri, at some cost and pain, and that proved to be a pretty smart move, didn’t it?”

Piastri’s focus now lies in building on his successful rookie season, relying on McLaren to provide a competitive car for 2024. Encouragement stems from the team’s progress in the current year and the presence of the speedy Lando Norris as Piastri’s teammate. While Norris hasn’t secured a Formula 1 victory, his consistent podium finishes in the latter part of the season highlight his competitiveness.

Piastri is seen as a rising talent who could potentially reach Norris’s level, emphasizing the importance of being in the right place at the right time in Formula 1. Brundle, McLaren, and Piastri are collectively satisfied with the decision made last year, while Alpine may harbor concerns about potentially regretting the loss of the Australian driver, who outscored their more experienced drivers in 2023.