Ricciardo Surprises as Lindblad Beats Verstappen in Red Bull's Historic Car Showdown

Daniel Ricciardo made a surprise appearance at a Red Bull event where Max Verstappen faced off against Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad. The pair competed in a unique challenge involving 12 cars spanning over a century of motorsport history. While Verstappen dominated the early acceleration and cornering stages, Lindblad stunned the champion by winning the final head-to-head showdown.

Why it matters:

This event underscores the strength of Red Bull's driver development program, placing a young rookie directly against the world champion in a competitive environment. It also highlights the team's marketing prowess and keeps Ricciardo engaged with the brand ecosystem. For Lindblad, beating Verstappen in any format is a significant confidence boost early in his career.

The Details:

• Acceleration: Verstappen dominated the drag strip, setting a 6.47s time in a 2200hp F-150 Lightning Supertruck. Lindblad struggled initially with a 1970 Mustang's clutch and could not match the pace in a 1986 RS200.
• Cornering: Verstappen continued his form, lapping in 37.81s in a 2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC against Lindblad's 41.15s in a 1966 GT40 Mk2.
• The Final: Ricciardo surprised the grid before the head-to-head, joking about the "Aussie power" of Verstappen's chosen Supercar. Despite the odds, Lindblad drove a flawless lap in a 2025 Mustang GT3, winning with a time of 1m03.10s to Verstappen's 1m06.29s.

Between the lines:

Ricciardo’s presence provided a mentorship moment, humorously noting that drivers need a "big ego" to take on Verstappen. The event successfully blended historical automotive appreciation with modern driver rivalry, ending on a high note for the Red Bull junior team.