Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo
Max Verstappen has revealed who his 'strongest teammate' during his F1 career and it wasn't even a competition.
Despite being only 27, Verstappen is heading into his 11th season in Formula 1 after becoming the youngest driver in the sport's history when he signed for Toro Rosso in 2015.
Verstappen spent one full season at Toro Rosso, before being promoted to the Red Bull senior team in 2016 where he has remained in the years since.
During his F1 career, Verstappen has had his fair share of teammates, with the Dutchman teaming up with: Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and now Liam Lawson for 2025.
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Being teammates with Verstappen is usually a kiss of death, with the last three of his Red Bull partners being axed by the team for poor performances.
Despite it being the toughest role in F1, Verstappen has revealed one driver was actually a massive help to the Dutchman.
When asked who his strongest teammate was by Blick, Verstappen revealed there was a clear winner.
"Clearly Daniel Ricciardo, I was able to learn the most from him. I absorbed a lot and incorporated it into my experiences," Verstappen said without hesitation.
Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates from 2016-2018, with Ricciardo finishing ahead of Verstappen during their first two seasons together as teammates.
However, in 2018 the Verstappen we all know now started to bare his teeth resulting in Ricciardo making the move to Renault (now Alpine), as the team began to swing in the direction of the youngster.
Despite an overall positive time at Renault given the team's position, the move proved to be the turning point in Ricciardo's career as his subsequent moves to McLaren and RB ultimately ended his time in F1.
Ricciardo left the sport following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix and took to Instagram and released the following statement.
"I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey," he began.
"To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me, haha, thank you.
"It’ll always have its highs and lows but it’s been fun and truth be told I wouldn’t change it. Until the next adventure," he added.