Ricciardo: 'The fact that Verstappen was so pissed off only made me happier'

Daniel Ricciardo was Max Verstappen' s teammate from 2016 to meet 2018. The Australian says it's not easy being Verstappen's teammate because he's a 'rare super talent'.

Ricciardo full of praise for Verstappen

In conversation with NOS Ricciardo admits that it is not easy to race with Verstappen in a team. "He's just very good. A rare super talent. When Max became my teammate, I had to step up a gear. Before, I could allow myself to slip up in qualifying. Not with Max," he says.

Ricciardo praises the Dutchman for his attacking driving style and mentality. The current McLaren driver saw Verstappen enter Red Bull Racing as a young driver and also sees that he has grown tremendously since then. Ricciardo says he is happy with strong teammates, because he is your main rival.

Not the youngest pole-sitter

"I remember how furious Max was when I snatched pole position from in front of him in Mexico 2018. He could have been the youngest pole-sitter. The fact that he was so pissed off only made me extra happy," Ricciardo spoke. Despite that, the relationship between the two was very good.