Ricciardo: 'Ocon is a bit similar to Max'

Daniel Ricciardo easily beat Esteban Ocon in the duels in 2020, but he was also able to learn from his young French teammate. The younger generation of Formula 1 drivers is forcing Ricciardo to keep improving himself.

“I’ve always enjoyed and embraced a new team mate. It’s no secret that they are your first rival. They are always the guy that deep down you want to beat the most because they represent your fairest competition," said Ricciardo talking to Formula1.com.

Ricciardo learns from the young generation

Ricciardo drove together with Max Verstappen for several seasons, but with Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and Lando Norris the Australian now has to deal with three new teammates in three years. Three of the four names have been young and relatively inexperienced, but this allows Ricciardo to keep pushing himself.

"And [Ocon] is a young, hungry kid coming up – a bit similar to Max [Verstappen] in some respects. It’s been an opportunity to learn, and to understand how the younger generation are wired. I think with the younger drivers you see they are pretty quick learners. If I go out and do a fast corner, full-throttle, then in the next session, or on the next lap even, they’re going to do it too, so I like that. I like being kept on my toes and it’s forcing me to grow and get better,” he concludes.