Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo Reunite in Red Bull Challenge
Former teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo shared some laughs in Red Bull’s latest YouTube video, giving fans a glimpse of their enduring friendship.
The video featured Verstappen taking on a series of challenges with Ford cars spanning 100 years of automotive history. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad joined in the fun, eventually beating the three-time world champion.
But the real highlight came when Ricciardo made a surprise appearance.
Verstappen couldn’t hide his smile when he spotted his ex-teammate.
After Lindblad claimed victory, Verstappen turned to Ricciardo with a playful challenge. “You need to have a go,” he told the Australian while shaking his hand.
Ricciardo flashed his famous grin. “I know, I know, I might put a race suit on.”
“Just go in, just jump in!” Verstappen urged.
Red Bull also shared a photo on social media showing the two drivers catching up, fueling speculation about Ricciardo’s future with the team.
The pair were teammates from 2016 to 2018 before Ricciardo left for Renault. Even while racing for different teams, they’ve maintained their friendly relationship over the years.
Ricciardo’s F1 journey has been a rollercoaster lately. After losing his McLaren seat to Oscar Piastri in 2022, he made a comeback with AlphaTauri in 2023. His final F1 race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix before being replaced by Liam Lawson at VCARB.
The 35-year-old Australian now serves as an ambassador for Ford Racing. This connection is particularly interesting since Ford is working with Red Bull to develop the team’s first in-house engine for the 2026 season.
Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls plan to unveil their 2026 project in Detroit, Michigan, on January 15.
Could Ricciardo be involved in Red Bull’s future plans? That reunion with Verstappen certainly got fans talking.
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