Daniel Ricciardo’s pending move to McLaren next season is “make or break” for his Formula 1 career, 2009 world champion Jenson Button says.
The Australian has found himself in a state of flux in recent years, starting back in 2018 when he decided it was time to leave Red Bull for a fresh challenge – and to escape the growing shadow of Max Verstappen.
Renault was the destination that appealed most, with the French manufacturer harbouring big ambitions at returning to the front of the grid in 2021.
But a less than impressive first season last year confirmed Button’s feeling that it was the wrong choice.
“I even said to Daniel ‘I don’t get your decision to move to Renault’,” he told the In the Fast Lane podcast.
“I’m sure he’s questioned it at times, as you always do as a driver when you step backwards.
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“I know he’s being paid a lot of money at Renault, but he would have also been paid a lot at Red Bull so I don’t think it’s a cash issue,” the Briton noted.
“I think it goes back to not feeling equal with your teammate and not feeling wanted in the team, and I think that’s the reason why he made that move.
“He’s spent a couple of years at Renault… I’m probably more impressed with what he’s done at Renault than with what he did at Red Bull. To have one over on Nico Hulkenberg in his first year was very impressive.”
The team that outclassed Renault last year was McLaren, who Ricciardo turned down based on their very poor performance during the 2018 season.
So perhaps then it was no surprise that he jumped at the first opportunity to join the Woking-based squad when Ferrari chose Carlos Sainz to replace Sebastian Vettel back in May.
Certainly, with the new regulations now delayed until 2022, McLaren appears to offer a better chance at competing near the front of the grid in the short-to-medium term.
But with the 31-year-old running out of years to fulfil the potential he showed at Red Bull, Button admits the team he raced with between 2010-2017 may well represent Ricciardo’s last chance to do so.
“This move to McLaren, it’s make or break for his career,” the current Sky Sports pundit declared.
“He’s still young, but you’ve got to start moving towards a team that can give you race wins and hopefully fight for the Championship.
“It’s an important move for him. A McLaren with a Mercedes [engine] in the back should be very competitive.”