Daniel Ricciardo served for Red Bull with Max Verstappen for a significantly long time, and now he reveals how he has gotten better.
In the last couple of years, Max Verstappen has seen the most astronomical rise. The Dutchman has taken a massive leap in his career from being a carefree young driver tending to make reckless mistakes to now an almost championship mirror.
There was never a doubt about his potential. But the mistakes by him were sometimes frustrating. Daniel Ricciardo has had a first-hand experience of it.
When Red Bulls collide…the defining moment of last year’s Azerbaijan GP as Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen took each other out
Will more team-mates collide in 2019?
Find out this weekend on Sky F1: https://t.co/v82dEFMZw7 pic.twitter.com/MsXINi5nq7
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 24, 2019
And now, almost three years of separating ways, Ricciardo holds only positive opinions about the 24-year-old. He talks about how as a former teammate, he can analyse Verstappen’s growth.
“I don’t know if, as a former teammate, I have more knowledge than anyone else watching from the outside. Teammate or not: we know Max, the caliber of his driving style, how he races,” said Ricciardo to Motorsport.
“He came in with an aggressive approach, but he has matured over time. He finds himself less in incidents or accidents than I think he was in his first year in F1.
“He’s definitely polished off that aggression, but it’s definitely still there. I don’t think much has changed over the years. Like I said, he’s matured since his freshman year, but his approach hasn’t changed.”
“That’s in a way what I’ve always respected. You know you have tough duels with Max,” added Ricciardo.
Max Verstappen is just two races away
With the 2021 season is coming to an end, the two title protagonists Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, have reached the end of the wire. But only eight points separate them.
Therefore, it would be nerve-wracking pressure for the Dutchman, vying against one of the greatest F1 drivers ever. The momentum after the last two races with the Briton.
However, Verstappen can technically seal his title victory in Jeddah if Hamilton has a fateful day at work on the coming Sunday.
Max can win the title at the next race in Saudi Arabia if he:
– Wins with Fastest Lap, and Lewis is 6th
– Wins, and Lewis is 7th
– Is 2nd with Fastest Lap, and Lewis is 10th
– Is 2nd, and Lewis fails to score#F1 #HistoryAwaits pic.twitter.com/aqPZcTr8Vz
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 22, 2021
Also read: McLaren F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo talks about the influence The GOAT had on him
