Brundle tips Ricciardo to replace Hamilton at Mercedes

Former Formula One racing driver and current Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle reckons that Daniel Ricciardo could potentially replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes if the Brit does not sign a new contract with the Silver Arrows, but also mentioned Ferrari as a destination for the Honey Badger.

Both Hamilton and Ricciardo's contracts expire at the end of the current F1 season, with the end of the 2018 campaign predicted to be a widespread shake-up of the driving teams. Hamilton's contract talks have stalled recently despite his boss Toto Wolff insisting that a new deal with the Silver Arrows would be signed if the current world champion feels valued.

Ricciardo won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, while Hamilton didn't even make the podium. Brundle thinks that if Hamilton isn't happy, his replacement could come in the form of the Australian, who performed superbly in Shanghai.

“It’s a tough call for Ricciardo, assuming the two seats are actually available to him,” Brundle told Sky Sports.

“If Mercedes is an opportunity, where would he sit within the all-powerful sphere of Lewis Hamilton?

“Let me throw this outrageous curveball. Hamilton doesn’t seem particularly happy at the moment, and I can imagine he will be super expensive to hire for his next Merc contract too.

“If that isn’t already signed, would Mercedes go for the four-and-a-half-year younger Ricciardo instead? Sponsorship agreements might complicate that.”

Over at Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen is reportedly unhappy with his position as the alleged number two driver to Sebastian Vettel, ,and Brundle has suggested the Prancing Horse as another destination for Ricciardo should he decide to leave Red Bull.

“If Kimi feels unloved and unlucky at Ferrari at the moment, I wouldn’t blame him at all [in retiring],” the pundit added.

“Might Red Bull eventually be a more comfortable and faster home to remain at than Mercedes or Ferrari, or have they invested their future primarily into Verstappen?”