Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team (RB) recently announced the departure of Daniel Ricciardo from the team, with Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson stepping in to replace him.
Ricciardo has recently been vocal in his admiration for his former teammate Max Verstappen, praising the Dutch driver’s remarkable talent and dominance in Formula One. Recently, the Australian highlighted Verstappen’s extraordinary ability to consistently extract the maximum performance from his car, especially during challenging races.
“From a professional point of view, you can get inside each other’s head. I got to know how he thinks, and he knows how I think, so it’s a weird intimacy. Obviously then, after my Red Bull stint, he went on and won championships. I think at the time we had such a rivalry but also such a… I think we really enjoyed it and it became such a respect.” he added.
'We had such a rivalry but also such a respect' 🤝
Daniel Ricciardo details friendship with 'very mature' Max Verstappen and the text conversations while he struggled for form ❤️#F1 https://t.co/Wg2gHTCSO5
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 30, 2024
Ricciardo also recalled a particularly encouraging message from Verstappen during the challenging start of the 2024 season, which included a tough streak of races and a retirement at the Japanese Grand Prix. This situation sparked early speculation about Ricciardo’s future in Formula 1. The Dutchman’s support helped to ease some of the pressure during this difficult period, showcasing their friendship despite the competitive nature of the sport.
“I think Max has grown into a very… obviously a great driver, but a very mature young man. He’s always been very appreciative of our friendship and supportive”. Ricciardo added.
“Even after Japan this year, I was getting quite a lot of stick, and he was one of the only guys who sent me a text and said, ‘Mate, keep your head up, we know what you’re capable of. Don’t listen to the noise. So, I respect and appreciate him a lot.”
Ricciardo’s last race for RB saw him finish in 18th position but he controversially set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap to take a crucial point away from Verstappen’s title rival Lando Norris. This could prove crucial in deciding the faith of the driver’s championship as only 52 points separate the two rivals with just six races to go.
Read More: Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Exit: 5 Moments That Made the Australian a Popular F1 Driver
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
