Daniel Ricciardo is one of the most affable people in the whole F1 community. The man has developed a good rapport with all the Formula 1 drivers. However, back in 2018, when he was still a Red Bull driver, he got into a dispute with Max Verstappen which escalated to a point where the Australian decide to leave the team for Renault. Nevertheless, the Honey badger has now forgotten everything. And in a recent interview, he revealed how both motorists remain in constant touch using some old-school ways.

From 2014 to 2018, the Honey Badger competed for Red Bull, taking home seven victories. Verstappen became his teammate in 2016 as a result of the Dutchman’s promotion from Toro Rosso (Now AlphaTauri). Up until the time Max stepped into a Red Bull, Riccardo was the team’s star. However, after the Dutchman’s arrival, there was a competition between the two of them to be Red Bull’s No. 1 driver.

Ricciardo and Max Verstappen stirred up controversy in Azerbaijan in 2018 when their heated competition ended in a catastrophic accident. The event resulted in DNF for the both of them. Now, as per the Motorsport-Total, Daniel Ricciardo admits that despite the incident, they have had a good relationship and that he uses an obsolete method of communication with the Dutchman.

He said, “Obviously, there was the clash in Baku. But other than that, I think we’ve always had a pretty good relationship. Very competitive, of course, but also a very good personal relationship, and we also communicate via SMS and such.”

It is a bit of a shocker to see Ricciardo still use SMS to keep in touch with the people he cares about in the age of social media.

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When Max Verstappen joined Red Bull, Ricciardo had much more experience behind the wheel. However, the Australian had intended to leave Red Bull following the terrible tragedy in Baku. But four years later, he has returned to the Austrian outfit and offered his thoughts on Verstappen’s development.

Daniel Ricciardo feels Max Verstappen has matured over the years

When Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull in 2018, he had 7 victories under his belt, compared to only 5 for the inexperienced Max Verstappen. After four years, Max Verstappen has added 30 more victories and two crowns to his record. The Dutchman’s rapid rise has surprised everyone, especially Daniel Ricciardo.

He said, “ It’s been really, really nice to be back, with the team of course, but also with Max. I also think that in the few years that I’ve spent away from the team now, I’ve seen him grow and mature.” Adding further, Ricciardo stated, “He’s been a 2-time world champion. So it’s nice to see his success and development as a driver. But I think he’s held up really well.”

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For the time being in this season, Daniel Ricciardo will be seen assisting the team with promotional activities and testing Red Bull cars on the weekends.

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It’s not a pleasant sight to see an experienced athlete like Daniel Ricciardo watching the racing from the sidelines. The Honey Badger’s presence on the paddock, though, will only increase the pressure on Sergio Perez. Perhaps Red Bull’s plans will only become clear with time.