Daniel Ricciardo shared a heartfelt story about his bond with Max Verstappen. He revealed that Verstappen sent him a kind message during a tough time when people doubted his Formula 1 future.
Ricciardo is likely leaving Formula 1 soon, with Liam Lawson expected to replace him for the United States Grand Prix. Although nothing is confirmed yet, Ricciardo was emotional after the Singapore Grand Prix.
Reflecting on his career, Ricciardo talked about his days at Red Bull Racing. In 2016, he teamed up with Verstappen, who had just been promoted to the main team. Ricciardo reminisced about their good times together.
“It’s funny because as teammates you get to know each other really well,” Ricciardo told Sky Sports. “You spend so much time together and understand each other’s thoughts. It’s like a weird closeness. We had a rivalry but also enjoyed it and respected each other.”
Ricciardo: ‘Verstappen was one of the only ones who sent me anything’
“Max has grown into an amazing driver and a mature young man,” Ricciardo said. “He’s always valued our friendship and supported me. After Japan this year, I was getting criticized a lot, and he was one of the few who texted me saying, ‘mate, keep your head up. We know what you can do. Ignore the noise.’ I respect and appreciate him a lot.”
During the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo helped Verstappen by beating Lando Norris‘ fastest lap time. This cost Norris a point even though Ricciardo didn’t get the bonus point since he finished outside the top 10.
Fans might find this news touching as it shows true sportsmanship between rivals.
It’s interesting how friendships can form in competitive environments like Formula 1. What do you think?
