Daniel Ricciardo admits he underestimated Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo has said he underestimated how competitive Max Verstappen would be at Red Bull.

The Dutchman's predecessor Daniil Kvyat rarely troubled Ricciardo, but Verstappen won his first race for the team and has been more than a match for his Australian team mate.

"I certainly underestimated Max, I knew I had a challenge, I knew he would be fast because I've known Carlos Sainz longer than I've known Verstappen and I know he is bloody is fast," he told Motorsport-Total.com. "Max and he were pretty evenly matched, the young drivers of today learn so quickly. Verstappen is a potential world champion of the future. "

"I also knew that Red Bull put him out of the car to create a hype in the media," added Ricciardo. "They had analysed in his performance at Toro Rosso and drew the conclusion that Max was ready. But you have to hold your own in this sport, and Verstappen does."