Ricciardo: "Max is a tougher teammate than Seb"
- Published on 23 Sep 2017 11:34
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- By: Sam Gale
Daniel Ricciardo has claimed that current teammate Max Verstappen is the toughest teammate he has come up against in his career so far, which includes the likes of four time world champion, Sebastian Vettel, who was his partner in 2014. So far Daniel Ricciardo has outscored both drivers but reckons that Verstappen, who has more often than not outqualified the Australian this season before retiring on numerous occasions, is the tougher opponent.
Certainly in 2014 Ricciardo had his breakout season in his first season in the senior Red Bull team, where he handily outperformed Vettel, grabbing three victories to his teammates none and outscoring him 238 points to 167. Although many have claimed Vettel did not show his true form that season, becoming unmotivated after having his first non title contender in five years and safe in the knowledge that he was moving to Ferrari at the end of the season.
Ricciardo is heavily outscoring Verstappen this season although many factors have skewed this season, with Verstappen retiring from very good positions this season, including in Baku where he was ahead of Ricciardo when he was forced to retire whilst Ricciardo went on to win the race.
Ricciardo said this on his relationship with Verstappen and who is his quickest teammate: "I don’t want to take anything away from Seb - he is and was and still is a great driver - but I believe Max is the toughest teammate, hopefully he says the same for me!"
He went on to say this on the incident between the two from the Hungarian Grand Prix: "The marshal was pulling me off the track, I was like ‘don’t touch me’, I really wanted to wait for Max to drive past, In the heat of the moment I may have said some things… but I still feel that I handled myself all right.
We’ve moved on. Obviously I was upset but that was out of my control, so what more can I do? He apologised like a man, that was important. We had a private sit down, pretty much like we are now but without the cameras, and we spoke so that was important."
Sam Gale
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Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Ricciardo really only raced Vettel for one season, a season in which Vettel was plagued by poor reliability. Likewise I dont think Vers' results this season makes him justice. Ricciardo really need to stop talking and begin to try to actively be in front of his team mate. He need to be more than the scrap man who opportunizes on other drivers' failures.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I love Ricciardo Ian's have been impressed with him long before joining Red Bull. However, for the first time, this season he seems to be outperformed by his teammate. Last season he easily out qualified Max. This season it seems that most of the time Verstappen retired it was while being ahead of Ricciardo. That being said, I think there is not shame in Verstappen narrowly out qualifying you. We're talking about the greatest rookie to join the sport since Lewis Hamilton
F1racefan97
Posts: 113
I really don't think he got anywhere near the best of vettel in 2014, he had a perfect storm of lack of motivation, I mean wouldn't you subconsciously stop trying if you had been at the top for 4 years and knew you then had no chance? Added to that danny had everything to prove in that season, he hadn't dominated jev and knew this was his big chance to impress the world! I would love to see it happen again
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Its allows hard to compare drivers across cars and teams. But the drivers know themselves who is at the top of their game. Looks like an acknowledgement of the 4-10 qualification stat. Nice guy very good team mate to have.
DutchTreath
Posts: 5,058
You only can make that comparison if you put the 3 drivers in the same car during a hole season. I think that Vettel en Hamilton are two amazing drivers, but they are human also and make stupid mistakes on moment you never expect it. I must say that Hamilton surprised me after the summer brake. He is full committed to the championship. Vettel on the other hand can't stop making mental mistakes in de races. For sure Ricciardo and Max are from the same level. Just wait and see what happen wen they have a competitive car like Vettel and Hamilton.