Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo has shared a touching message he was sent by his old pal Max Verstappen.
The Aussie ace was holding back tears after what might have been his final spin on a Formula One circuit at the Singapore GP, with it being widely reported that VCARB are set to replace Ricciardo as their primary driver, leaving his F1 career hanging in the balance. Ricciardo previously had his eyes on a Red Bull reunion after stints with Renault and McLaren but missed out on joining up with his former team.
The 35-year-old twice finished third in the drivers’ championship with Red Bull – and it was during his stint with the team that his friendship with Verstappen blossomed. They haven’t been side-by-side in the pits since 2018, but Verstappen has showered his ex-team-mate with praise, while Ricciardo gave a glimpse into their friendship by revealing the heartfelt message the world champion sent him in April after his first-lap crash in Japan.
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“It’s a funny thing, because as team-mates you just know each other more,” Ricciardo said about Verstappen. “You spend so much time together. From a professional point of view, you can get inside each other’s head. I got to know how he thinks and he got to know how I think.
“It’s a weird intimacy. We had such a rivalry, but also I think we really enjoyed it and it became such a respect,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think Max has grown into obviously a great driver but a very mature young man. He’s always been very appreciative of our friendship and supportive – even after Japan this year, I was getting quite a lot of stick and he was one of the only guys who sent me a text and said, ‘mate, keep your head up. We know what you’re capable of. Don’t listen to the noise.’ I respect and appreciate him a lot.”
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(Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Despite not realising his dream of linking up with Verstappen at Red Bull for a second time, Ricciardo is content with possibly saying goodbye to the sport. Last week, Verstappen commended the 35-year-old on his successful F1 career and spoke warmly about his former team-mate again on Sunday.
“Daniel and I, we go of course a long time way back,” Verstappen said on Sky Sports. “We’ve always had a great relationship, a great friendship, a lot of respect for each other as well. He’s just a great guy. We get on well. There’s no fake person; we just get along. Easygoing – we’re like that.
“He will for sure be remembered as a very fast driver – I think everyone knows that – but also as a great guy in the paddock.”