Daniel Ricciardo has revealed which current Formula 1 driver he would support if he were to hang up his ‘racing helmet’ and become a fan. His choice fell on Max Verstappen, with whom he worked from 2016 to 2018 at Red Bull Racing.
On The Ariel Helwani Show podcast, Ricciardo was asked who he would cheer for. “For various reasons, I think Max Verstappen, because he is who he is. If he doesn’t want to talk to someone in the media, he just doesn’t.”
Ricciardo also complimented Verstappen on his attitude towards the media, including the Netflix series Drive to Survive: “In recent seasons, he has said ‘no’ to a few things. He just does his own thing and stays true to it. You get exactly what you see. Many people admire that. Maybe he’s not always the most approachable or the funniest, but he’s Max, and people know that. They just get what they can expect.”
Ricciardo, who experienced Verstappen up close during their joint period at Red Bull, reflects on the rivalry and cooperation: “He’s a very hard racer. I absolutely respect that. I was his teammate, so I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve seen up close how he has developed and matured.”
