A year ago, there were some exceptional drives – particularly in the wet in Brazil, when Verstappen drove so well that he earned correlation with the best exhibitions of Ayrton Senna – yet on adjust Ricciardo shaded him, particularly in qualifying. Not so in 2017. Verstappen out-qualified the Australian 13 times in 20 races and won two grands prix to the Australian’s one.
This isn’t to criticize Ricciardo. He level beat Vettel when they were colleagues at Red Bull in 2014, is a world-class driver himself, and completed in front of Verstappen in the title.
As Red Bull group important Christian Horner puts it: “We know Daniel is a unimaginable qualifier so it demonstrates the level Max is working at.”
Ricciardo is the first to recognize how much his partner has ventured forward this year.
Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull contract is said by those up to date to make him the third best paid driver in Formula 1 behind Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel from one year from now.
“Max improved this year compared to last year. The qualifying shows that,” Ricciardo says. “His Saturdays were certainly good. Our Sundays – OK he has had two wins and I’ve had one, but generally my Sundays have been good, the racing and the race-craft.
“But the Saturdays I wouldn’t say I was happy with myself always and he also improved. It was a good year for both Lewis and Max.”
The group won’t uncover the correct sum in any case, by procedure of end, the Dutchman’s pay for the following three years will be between £18-26m. Not terrible for a 20-year-old will’s identity beginning just his fourth full season in F1.
In any case, the thing is, Verstappen is justified, despite all the trouble.
Where precisely he remains in the progressive system of best drivers in the game is an issue for banter about. However, it’s difficult to contend after this season he isn’t in the dialog with Hamilton, Vettel, his Red Bull partner Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso.
“Of course qualifying has been a big improvement but already last year the last few races I was on good form with that,” he says.
“It was just general experience and putting the pieces together and a bit of luck as well, because qualifying is a bit like that.
“It has been in my favour and I am enjoying qualifying more and I have grown as a driver and that helps a lot in those circumstances. In the race; I was never too worried about that. That was always going quite well but if you are in a good starting position that helps a lot.”
