Verstappen is "fair and clean" - Ricciardo

  • Published on 15 Jan 2017 11:45
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that if Red Bull produce a championship winning car next year, fights with his team mate Max Verstappen will be hard but fair.

The two were pitched against each other for the majority of the 2016 season, both claiming a win each. However, Ricciardo said there is a chance for them to be more competitive with each other if given the right car.

“I’ll be realistic, and naturally if Max and I are fighting for the title next year, it would be natural for it to become more competitive [between us],” he told ESPN. 

“You might feel a bit more pressure, but if I’m honest I always feel like I race with respect and if he beats me fair and square I will just say that, even though I don’t like getting beaten, he deserves it.

“I don’t see any reason to have friction, obviously in Malaysia [when Ricciardo and Verstappen ended up in a wheel-to-wheel battle] in the end that battle was for the win and I think we handled it well – we raced hard and fair.

“I think it would only change if we let the outside [influences] start to creep into us, otherwise I’ve had fun with Max and I’m looking forward to it and hopefully we’ll have some good battles. I think the team is excited.”

The Australian admits that he recognizes  Verstappen's youth but says he shows no sign of it when he's on the racetrack.

“We’ve seen he races hard and on the limit sometimes, but when it comes down to it he’s fair and clean. We got through with our heads still screwed on.

“He’s young, but in racing terms I think he’s very mature. He’s been around the sport a long time, and he may have only reached puberty a few weeks ago, but beyond that he’s pretty smart.”

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (1)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,980
  • Podiums 111
  • Grand Prix 206
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar