Ricciardo: Verstappen faster than Vettel over one lap

  • Published on 30 May 2019 11:11
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Daniel Ricciardo believes that Max Verstappen is quicker over one lap than four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Ricciardo partnered both drivers at Red Bull, racing alongside Vettel in 2014 and Verstappen from 2016 to the end of the 2018 season.

Speaking on Nico Rosberg's Beyond The Grid podcast, Ricciardo affirmed that he doesn't believe Vettel to be slow over one lap, but admits that he saw Verstappen as the quicker of the two.

"I won't take anything away from Seb, he is not slow by any means," the now Renault driver said. "Probably as well because Max is still young, and if he's quick now, he's probably only going to get quicker.

"Seb has been doing it that long, I think you always improve as a driver, but there's less room for him to grow, and more for Max. If Seb's listening, sorry Seb," Ricciardo laughed.

Vettel was absorbed by racing and Formula 1

Ricciardo joined Red Bull in 2014 after spending two years racing for Toro Rosso alongside Jean-Eric Vergne.

The Australian picked up three Grand Prix victories in his opening year with the team, while Vettel struggled to adjust to the introduction of the new V6 turbo hybrid cars.

Speaking about Vettel within the Red Bull team, Ricciardo says the German was always direct and understood, but still maintained respect for the rest of the team members. 

"I was excited for that challenge, the on-track challenge but also to see how he worked off-track," he said. "There was a lot of attention to detail. He lives and breathes racing.

"I felt he didn't have many other hobbies. It was just racing and he was really absorbed by it. He had a good way of communicating, he was firm but not disrespectful. 

"If something wasn't good enough, he would say 'It's not good enough, we can do better', but it got the message across. He was direct but was still kind. He shook everyone's hand and had a good balance."

Not very surprising, but did he just admit Max was faster than him?

  • 1
  • May 30 2019 - 13:29

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Not very surprising, but did he just admit Max was faster than him?

    • + 1
    • May 30 2019 - 13:29
    • No, not at all. He just said Max is under certain circumstances faster than Vettel and have more room to develop to become superior to Vettel.

      • + 0
      • May 31 2019 - 07:29
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    He did not admit that Max is faster only points out the differences between Max and Seb. However the story doesn't quite add up; since there was another interview in where he called Max a nerd, because he was so specific about issues and knowledgeable about their car instead he said this about Seb. It sounds to me that we would love to work with Seb. Who wouldn't want to be in that Ferrari right now.

    Honda is improving but will they have improved enough to be on par with Merc in 2020? Verstappen now deserves to be in the fastest car, RBR knows this. If the 2020 RBR

    • + 1
    • May 31 2019 - 10:26
    • boudy

      Posts: 1,168

      If the 2020 RBR is not at level of Mercedes or Ferrari than they will lose Verstappen in 2021. Either way 2021 would be an interesting season since Vettel/Hamilton/Verstappen will all be out of contract.

      Who would Ferrari sign if they can have access to Hamilton/Verstappen also? The thought of either of those drivers in red is very exciting.

      It all hinges on Honda.

      Honda on Merc level @ 2020 -->

      RBR --> Verstappen
      Merc --> Ham/Vet
      Fer --> Ham/Vet

      Honda not on Merc level @ 2020:

      Ferrari -> Ver
      Merc -> Ham
      RBR -> Vet

      • + 1
      • May 31 2019 - 10:34
    • Will Honda be on par with Merc next year? No. But they might close in. I do however fail to see a RB Vet switch. He will stay where he get the best car, he'd be stupid to switch with Vers if Ferrari remain 2nd best or better.

      • + 0
      • May 31 2019 - 11:25

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 2,941
  • Podiums 110
  • Grand Prix 204
  • 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