Shaping a Champion: Christian Horner Unveils Daniel Ricciardo’s Vital Influence on Max Verstappen’s F1 Journey

Christian Horner highlights Daniel Ricciardo's significant impact on Max Verstappen

Christian Horner is of the opinion that Daniel Ricciardo played a crucial role in shaping Max Verstappen’s development while they were colleagues at Red Bull.

Between 2016 and 2018, Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates for nearly three years, during which they were considered one of the most formidable duos in the racing field.

Upon Verstappen's arrival at Red Bull at the mere age of 18, it was naturally assumed that Ricciardo would take on the role of team leader.

Even though they encountered conflict during the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, their bond remained solid.

Verstappen opened up about his relationship with Ricciardo following the Singapore Grand Prix, expressing, "He's a friend. Generally speaking, being in this type of situation is always difficult."

"He shouldn't be too hard on himself. At times, despite our best efforts, things don't go as planned during various phases of our career. Yet, he's accomplished more than most people could ever hope to in their lifetime."

Following the weekend in Singapore, it was declared that Ricciardo would be leaving Formula 1, marking the end of his tenure in the racing discipline.

During a conversation on the F1 Nation podcast, Horner shared his thoughts on Ricciardo's influence within the team and discussed his leading driver at present.

"Horner believes that Max greatly benefited from his influence," he stated. "Upon joining the team, Max was relatively inexperienced, a rookie. He had a significant impact on Max, teaching him to approach life with a lighter heart and to savor the present."

He was passionate about his profession and felt greatly privileged to be a Grand Prix driver. The amusing antics he would sometimes engage in were just part of his charm.

"Whether it involved grabbing a camera from one of the Formula 1 cameramen and heading into the Mercedes team’s garage."

"It's unprecedented. I'm astonished that Toto didn't immediately dismiss him the moment he started focusing on their brake ducts and everything else we were curious about."

"He excelled as a vocalist and musician, always eager to take his chances."

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