Daniel Ricciardo Praises Max Verstappen in Rare Post-F1 Interview

Daniel Ricciardo Praises Max Verstappen in Rare Post-F1 Interview

Daniel Ricciardo, largely out of the spotlight since his replacement by Liam Lawson after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, recently spoke at a conference, offering high praise for his former Red Bull Racing teammate, Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

Ricciardo's comments provide a rare glimpse into his current mindset and his perspective on Verstappen's remarkable success, especially after a challenging period in his own Formula 1 career. It highlights a mature and generous view from the Australian driver.

The big picture:

Ricciardo's journey in F1 began with the Red Bull Junior Programme, leading to his debut with HRT in 2011, then Toro Rosso, and finally a promotion to Red Bull Racing in 2014. He quickly proved his talent by winning three races in his debut season with Red Bull, even during Mercedes' dominant era. He was teammates with Max Verstappen from 2016 until the end of 2018, before moving to Renault and then McLaren. His return to AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2023 was brief, ending with Liam Lawson taking his seat.

What Ricciardo said:

At the Ray White Connect 2025 conference, Ricciardo was asked about Verstappen's success.

• "Seeing Max go on to be, four-time World Champion? I lose count. He’s won that many now," Ricciardo remarked.
• "But four-time World Champion, like, I’m proud. I’m like, ‘Okay, that was cool. That’s a team-mate I had, that was someone who I shared a lot of time and track with.’"

On his life post-F1:

Ricciardo also reflected on his current phase of life, emphasizing self-exploration and appreciating simpler things.

• He admitted to not shaving much, calling his beard "my comfort right now."
• "This year has been a bit of self-exploration. I lived this crazy high-speed life for so long, and this year I’ve sat into a little bit of stillness."
• He's been hiking, including a trip to Alaska, trying to "figure out who I am other than this race car driver."
• He's learned to "appreciate the little thing more and the meaning of the importance of family and friends."
• Ricciardo is also trying to be "a bit more selfless and become a better listener."

No regrets:

Despite not achieving his ultimate goal of a World Championship, Ricciardo expressed contentment.

• "Yes, my dream was to be World Champion, and there were years along the way where I genuinely felt like it was gonna happen. I got close. That’s OK."
• "If I were a World Champion sitting here today, would it change how I feel, or how I view myself, or anything like that? I don’t think so. Maybe my ego would be big. We don’t want that! I have no regrets."