Martin Brundle admits ‘paddock rumours are swirling’ around £105k-a-week driver’s future

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The world of Formula 1 is brutal and it doesn’t take long before your place on the grid is being questioned if you’re not living up to expectations.

Just ask Nyck de Vries, who 10 races into his rookie season was given his marching orders by AlphaTauri last year.

Reflecting on the race in Australia for Sky Sports F1, Martin Brundle suggested that rumours are beginning to build around the future of one current driver.

The long-term future of Logan Sargeant has to be called into question after being asked to give up his car for Alex Albon in Melbourne.

Neither Sauber driver is signed up for 2025 ahead of Audi’s introduction to the sport the following year.

However, Martin Brundle is worried about Daniel Ricciardo and the rumours beginning to gather around the 34-year-old.

After a tough start to the campaign, the £105,000-a-week driver may not have long to turn things around.

He’s in the unfortunate position that Red Bull and RB have a driver ready and waiting to step up at a moment’s notice who has already proved himself in a Formula 1 car.

Martin Brundle worried about rumours surrounding Daniel Ricciardo

The Australian crowd in Melbourne rose to their feet as the chequered flag waved to congratulate the herculean effort of Carlos Sainz to win a race just two weeks after having surgery.

They stayed standing to watch their new hero Oscar Piastri cross the line narrowly outside the podium positions.

The 22-year-old is the new star of Australian motorsport and could just be a world champion in waiting.

However, while they showed their appreciation for Daniel Ricciardo as he finished the race, his 12^th-place finish only added to the concern surrounding his future.

He deserves credit for his drive from 18^th on the grid and if he had nailed qualifying like teammate Yuki Tsunoda, he would have finished in the points.

Unfortunately, those mistakes are costing Ricciardo and Brundle has said that the rumours gathering around his future make for uncomfortable reading.

Ricciardo facing uphill battle to secure Formula 1 future

Speaking about the performance of both RB drivers, Brundle said: “Yuki Tsunoda inherited seventh after Alonso’s penalty following a fine drive again for Team RB.

“His team-mate Daniel Ricciardo had a time deleted for track limits in qualifying and could never really recover into the head of the midfield. Difficult times there, and paddock rumours are swirling.”

There are already reports surfacing that the Australian may have just two races left to save his Formula 1 career.

Liam Lawson’s camp has denied that he’s set to imminently replace the 34-year-old, but things move very quickly in the paddock.

Ricciardo had trouble battling Nico Hulkenberg which ultimately cost him the chance of scoring points, with Alex Albon also sitting between him and the top ten.

Ayumu Iwasa lined up for FP1 run at Japanese Grand Prix

Although there’s no indication that RB are about to make a personnel change, they are keeping a closer eye on their young talents.

Ayumu Iwasa will take part in the first practice session in Suzuka at his home Grand Prix as part of the required sessions RB have to give to rookie drivers.

He will drive Ricciardo’s car for that hour, driving alongside Tsunoda for an all-Japanese line-up for that session.

Lawson is the driver at the front of the queue to step up if required within the Red Bull group.

However, a strong performance from Iwasa – who has been described by team principal Laurent Mekies as ‘valuable’ – will only add to the rumours surrounding Ricciardo that Brundle was alluding to.