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Ricciardo thinks 2018 season vs Verstappen isn't a true reflection

Ricciardo thinks 2018 season vs Verstappen isn't a "true reflection"

24-12-2018 10:00 Last update: 10:00
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Bobby Vincent

Daniel Ricciardo has claimed his qualifying record and points tally compared to his 2018 Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen were distorted.

Ricciardo finished sixth in the championship during his final season at Red Bull Racing; due to terrible reliability issues.

The Aussie, now of Renault, finished 79 points behind Verstappen - despite winning two out of the six opening races. After his win in Monaco, Verstappen outqualified Ricciardo 11 times in succession.

"I am happy with how I've been this year and I certainly feel that the points and the qualifying tally don't show the true picture," Ricciardo told Autosport. "I don't want to take the credit away from Max because he is getting better each year and he's a top-level driver.

"There is no doubt that he is extremely fast and he's not easy to beat on any day. But even on those days where he has outqualified me, I've still been comfortable with that and most of the time I've understood why.

"Sometimes I've taken my hat off and said that it was just a bloody good lap, but there have been other times, where there have been some issues and I've had some little things which haven't quite gone my way."

Ricciardo is taking on a new challenge in 2019; linking up with Renault - and ending his 12-year stay with Red Bull.