“Ocon is a young, hungry kid coming up – a bit similar to Max”- Daniel Ricciardo

“Ocon is a young, hungry kid coming up – a bit similar to Max”- Daniel Ricciardo claims he gets to learn a lot from the younger generation.

Daniel Ricciardo partnered with Esteban Ocon for only a year. Still, even in this brief spell together, the Australian now only have positive remarks for his set to be ex-teammate.

In the recent praise to Ocon, he has compared him to his former teammate at Red Bull Max Verstappen, who indirectly propelled his move out of the Austrian side.

“And [Ocon] is a young, hungry kid coming up – a bit similar to Max [Verstappen] in some respects. It’s been an opportunity to learn and to understand how the younger generation is wired,” said Ricciardo to Formula1.com.

“I think with the younger drivers you see they are pretty quick learners. If I go out and do a fast corner, full-throttle, then in the next session, or on the next lap even, they’re going to do it too, so I like that.”

“I like being kept on my toes, and it’s forcing me to grow and get better,” he concludes. Ricciardo is not the only one to believe in Ocon, as Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul thinks that the Frenchman will have a stronger second year.

Will be partnering another youngster.

In this lot of F1 drivers, there is a huge percentage of young drivers, and that is why Ricciardo will be partnering with a young sensation yet again. Lando Norris, who debuted with McLaren in 2019 but is only 21-year-old right now.

Norris in 2020 had a brilliant start after he registered his name among the youngest drivers to grab a podium. Since then, he has been consistent and helped his team finishing third in constructor’s championship by vying against Racing Point across the year.

With Ricciardo coming in, he is deemed to be an upgrade over Carlos Sainz, considering the former’s experience in the sport. Hence there are a few expectations from McLaren in 2021.

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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