It’s been 8 seasons since Max Verstappen made his F1 debut. The Dutchman was only 17 years and 166 days when he raced for Toro Rosso for the first time. Since then, Max has partnered alongside 5 drivers, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, and Sergio Perez. Now, Max’s father, Jos Verstappen, has named who in his eyes has been the best teammate to his son.

Among the 5 prominent drivers, Ricciardo was the only one who was able to finish a season ahead of the Dutchman. Together, Max and Daniel raced for the Austrian team for almost 3 years. Throughout their collective stint for Red Bull, the due had a great bond, but they also had a fierce rivalry on the track.

When asked who Jos Verstappen would rate as the best teammate to his son, Jos said, “I think he might have learned the most from Daniel Ricciardo, a nice peer he gets along very well with. Max was still a young boy at the time and Ricciardo was really good, a qualifying beast.” [Translated using Google]

The Honey Badger was in his own league during his very first year at Red Bull. According to Jos, the car suited him quite well and the struggles Daniel is facing right now are mostly due to the car. Sr. Verstappen said, “I also think the car suited him well then, and that’s a bit of Ricciardo’s problem now.”

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Max Verstappen has always been lucky in getting a supportive teammate. Earlier, it was Ricciardo, now it’s Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver played a very crucial role in Verstappen’s title hunt this year. Giving his take on Verstappen’s dominant year, Perez thinks it’s Max’s ability, which made the difference and not the quick RB18.

Sergio Perez believes its Max Verstappen who was dominant, not RB18

Verstappen entered the Japanese Grand Prix in the hope to be crowned as a world champion for the second time. Although the Dutchman won, it was his teammate who played a vital role there, by securing P2. After Charles Leclerc was handed a 5s penalty, Sergio Perez got promoted to P2, which eventually made Verstappen the world champion.

Verstappen won the championship with 4 races remaining, and his teammate feels it is the ability of the driver and not the brilliance of RB18, which has led to their dominance this season.

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“I don’t feel like Red Bull have had a dominant car, to have won the championship the way Max won it, so I think he definitely pulled a gear or two compared to anyone else,” said the Mexican after Japanese GP.

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At 25 years only, Max Verstappen has spent eight years on the racing track. The time is arguably enough to call him a veteran. What do you think should be the next target for the two-time world champion?