Christian Horner Reveals How Daniel Ricciardo Shaped Max Verstappen’s F1 Journey

Christian Horner describes the significant impact Daniel Ricciardo had on Max Verstappen. According to Horner, Ricciardo played a crucial role in shaping Verstappen when they were both part of the Red Bull team.

Between 2016 and 2018, Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates for nearly three years, and during that period, they were often considered the most formidable duo in the racing lineup.

When Verstappen became part of Red Bull at the young age of 18, it was natural for Ricciardo to assume the role of the unofficial team leader.

Although they had an on-track collision during the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, their relationship remained strong.

After the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen openly discussed his relationship with Ricciardo, saying, "He is a friend of mine. I believe that, generally, being in such a situation is always unpleasant."

"He shouldn't pity himself. There are times in a career when things don't go as planned, but he's accomplished more than most people could even imagine."

Soon after the weekend in Singapore, it was revealed that Ricciardo would be leaving Formula 1, marking the end of his career in the racing series.

During an episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Horner discussed the influence Ricciardo had on the team, as well as on his top driver at present.

"According to Horner, Max gained a lot of knowledge from him. When Max first joined the team, he was seen as the young newcomer. He really impacted Max by teaching him not to take things too seriously and to appreciate the present."

"He cherished his work and felt privileged to be a grand prix driver. He also enjoyed engaging in some of the lighthearted antics."

"Be it grabbing a camera from one of the F1 cameramen and bringing it into the Mercedes garage."

"It’s unprecedented. I’m astonished that Toto didn’t remove him right away, especially since he was closely examining their brake ducts and everything we were keen on."

"He was a talented vocalist and skilled musician, always willing to give it a try without hesitation."

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