Daniel Ricciardo Voted Max Verstappen's Strongest Red Bull Teammate

A recent fan poll has definitively named Daniel Ricciardo as the strongest teammate Max Verstappen has encountered during his Red Bull career. The Australian, who raced alongside the Dutch champion from 2016 to 2018, dominated the voting with a commanding majority, leaving other former partners like Sergio Perez far behind.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's dominance has created a reputation for being a "teammate destroyer," making Ricciardo's performance during their shared years stand out even more in retrospect. This poll serves as a reminder of the competitive dynamic that existed at Red Bull before the team's recent era of one-sided dominance, validating Ricciardo's status as a top-tier driver during that period.

By the numbers:

• 67.2%: The landslide vote share for Ricciardo, highlighting his legacy as the only driver to consistently challenge Verstappen within the same machinery.
• 27.2%: The tally for Sergio Perez, reflecting his tenure as the number two driver who contributed to constructors' titles but rarely threatened Verstappen on race day.
• The Gap: The remaining votes were scattered among Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda, none of whom surpassed 3%.

Looking ahead:

With Liam Lawson stepping into the second Red Bull seat for 2025, he faces the daunting task of reversing this trend. The history of Ricciardo's success suggests that matching Verstappen requires not just speed, but the experience and race craft that the Honey Badger brought to the garage.