Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen had been Purple Bull team-mates for a time, and in addition labored collectively within the latter phases of the Aussie’s F1 profession when he drove for sister squad Racing Bulls
Daniel Ricciardo has declared his satisfaction in what Max Verstappen has achieved over his 200 races as a System 1 driver. The Dutchman burst onto the scene a decade in the past as a fresh-faced 17-year-old, by far the youngest racer the game had ever seen.
However what he lacked in time on planet Earth he greater than made up for along with his apparent pure expertise. It was solely a yr later, aged 18, that he was promoted from the Purple Bull junior outfit and made a direct influence, profitable his first race with the highest crew.
His team-mate on the time was Ricciardo, who had already established himself as crew chief on the Milton Keynes-based squad. However that standing started to destiny as Verstappen continues to shine, whereas there have been moments of stress – most notably once they collided on the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Ricciardo introduced in the course of the 2018 season that he would depart on the finish of the yr. Since then, their respective trajectories have diverged considerably with Verstappen changing into a four-time F1 champion and Ricciardo enduring unspectacular stints with Renault and McLaren earlier than dropping off the grid.
He was employed again by Purple Bull as a reserve and bought again onto the grid in 2023 when Nyck de Vries was axed by sister crew Racing Bulls. However, little over a yr later, the Australian too was faraway from his race seat and he has since made it clear that his F1 profession is over.
But it surely appears there are actually no arduous emotions between Ricciardo and Verstappen. The Aussie made it clear that’s the case from his standpoint in a race interview not too long ago, having chosen to maintain a largely low profile since leaving the F1 World for good.
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“Seeing Max go on to be, four-time World champion? I lose depend. He has gained that many now,” Ricciardo stated throughout a convention look. “However four-time World champion, I’m proud. I’m like, ‘Okay, that was cool. That may be a team-mate I had, that was somebody who I shared numerous time on observe with’.”
In one other uncommon public look, Ricciardo was noticed earlier this summer season at Wimbledon to soak up some tennis. Photographs taken of him at SW19 present the Australian has chosen to develop out his hair and beard in a stark transformation from his clean-cut look whereas racing, and talked about it as he opened up on what his life has been like away from the F1 circus.
He stated: “I have never been shaving my face, the beard is my consolation proper now. This yr has been a little bit of self-exploration. I lived this loopy high-speed life for thus lengthy, and this yr I’ve sat into a bit of little bit of stillness. I’ve had numerous time, I’ve achieved some climbing. I used to be in Alaska a couple of weeks in the past and didn’t get mauled by a grizzly, which was a bonus.
“I’ve been making an attempt to determine who I’m, aside from this race automotive driver. I’ve come to understand the little issues extra and the which means of the significance of household and pals. I’ve all the time been pushed and that typically leads you to being egocentric, so I’m making an attempt to be taught to be a bit extra selfless and turn into a greater listener.
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“I by no means thought I might have this profession. I by no means thought I might be right here – that’s the fact. Sure, my dream was to be World champion, and there have been years alongside the way in which the place I genuinely felt prefer it was going to occur.
“I bought shut, that’s okay. If I had been a World champion sitting right here as we speak, wouldn’t it change how I really feel, or how I view myself, or something like that? I do not assume so. Possibly my ego could be large and we do not need that! I’ve no regrets.”
