If there is ever a popularity contest among the drivers on Netflix’s Drive To Survive, Daniel Ricciardo would be a clear favorite. And while the series didn’t exactly portray his relationship with Max Verstappen as friendly, facts say otherwise. With Maxim magazine, the McLaren driver set the record straight. 

Daniel Ricciardo sets the record straight

 Anyone who watches F1 knows that Max and Daniel were one of the best pairings on the grid back in Red Bull. More importantly, their chemistry and working relationship captured the hearts of many fans.

“When I think of teammates I definitely think of Max [Verstappen]. He’s the first one that comes to mind because he’s the longest teammate I’ve had in Formula 1,” said Ricciardo. 

“I think we pushed each other for better or worse, whether it was a heated rivalry or a respectful intensity we got the best out of each other. We both thrived off it.”

But the eight-time Grand Prix winner also got candid about his first teammate at Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel. The McLaren driver didn’t hide the fact that he enjoyed his time with Vettel in 2014, given that the German was a four-time world champion, and that Ricciardo was able to observe Sebastian. 

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“He had a way of getting what he wanted or getting a point across, which was sometimes intense or robust, but it was respected and taken on.”

Ricciardo’s thoughts on Max becoming champion before him

Every F1 driver wants to be a world champion. But only a few ever get to do it. Max Verstappen has been able to make this dream of his come true in 2021. This may hurt Daniel, as he has been in the industry longer than Max. But Ricciardo gave his honest thought. 

So, like with Max, sure we had a rivalry, but I think we always respected each other,” began Daniel Ricciardo. 

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“But there was a bit of a lid on our relationship as teammates, but when I then moved on from Red Bull and I felt like because we weren’t directly competing with each other we were able to actually form a better relationship.”

But he didn’t hide the fact that he rates Max Verstappen very highly. And was very happy when Verstappen won the Drivers’ title. Ricciardo revealed that he saw Max after the race and said to him, “Congrats and I’m happy for you.”  

It’s heartening to see that both drivers have respect for each other and continue to be good friends.