“Not the Most Approachable or Funniest” – Daniel Ricciardo Explains Why He is a ‘Fan’ of Max Verstappen

Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were teammates at Red Bull Racing for three years. The Aussie driver had the front seat to witness the talents of the young Dutch driver. But on the track, they did not give an inch to each other.

Verstappen is a straightforward person on and off the track. He doesn’t mince his words and focuses on his driving. Recently, the McLaren driver revealed what sets Max Verstappen apart from the rest of the grid.

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Daniel Ricciardo stated he is a fan of Max Verstappen

In a recent interview, Ricciardo mentioned that he really enjoys watching Max Verstappen in Formula One. He stated that the Red Bull driver is who he is and hides nothing. He also revealed that Max speaks his mind and is not afraid of anyone.

“I mean, for different reasons, I guess, but like Max Verstappen, because he is what he is. You know, if he doesn’t want to talk to someone in the media, he won’t. I think some of the Netflix stuff now with the new season, I think he’s said no to a few of the things.”

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – OCTOBER 01: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with third-place finisher Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing on the podium during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit on October 1, 2017, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

“So he kinda just has his way, and he’s just gonna stick by it. I don’t know you get what you see. I think a lot of people also admire that and like that. He might not be the most approachable or funniest or whatever, but he is Max and people know that’s what they’re going to get.”

“He’s a very hard racer, and obviously people like that, so I definitely respect that. I was his teammate, so I’ve known him for quite a long time as well and I’ve also seen him mature. I not only have respect for him, but what he does is a kind of relatable to some as well.” said Ricciardo.

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The McLaren driver discusses his rivalry with Verstappen

Daniel Ricciardo mentioned that the Dutch driver was fast from the time he first drove the Red Bull. He stated that Max’s pace gave him energy as well. He also mentioned how they did not give each other space on the racetrack.

Formula One F1 – Turkish Grand Prix – Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 7, 2021, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo during a press conference ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix Pool via REUTERS/Sedat Suna

“We didn’t give each other any space. That did sometimes cause tricky situations, like Budapest in 2017 and Baku in 2018. But there was always mutual respect because we knew from each other that we could deal with those situations.” said the Aussie driver.

During their time in Red Bull, Ricciardo matched the performances of Verstappen. To date, Daniel is the only teammate Max has not outscored during their time as teammates. It is an achievement that the Aussie driver could be proud of.

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