Max Verstappen picks 8x F1 race winner as his toughest ever teammate 

Max Verstappen called 8-time race winner Daniel Ricciardo the toughest teammate he has worked with in his racing career. The duo drove together to Red Bull Racing from 2016-18, resulting in several heated and fierce on-track battles.

Verstappen made his debut with Red Bull in 2016 as one of the youngest drivers to hit the grid in F1's history. He was paired with Ricciardo, who had been racing for the team since 2014. The Australian driver's pace and impressive mindset helped him scale a meteoric rise.

However, Verstappen's entry resulted in many fierce battles between the teammates. The duo featured in 58 Grand Prix as teammates from 2016-2018. The Dutchman won five races and 22 podiums, whereas Ricciardo wasn't far behind with four wins and 10 podiums.

However, the key difference was in qualification. Verstappen outqualified Ricciardo 34 times as teammates with Red Bull. Regardless, overall, their stats are largely competitive, with the four-time world champion maintaining a marginal lead.

Meanwhile, Verstappen holds utmost respect for Daniel Ricciardo. Acknowledging the Australian driver's fierce talent, he said, via Blick:

"Definitely Daniel Ricciardo [the toughest teammate]; I was able to learn the most from him. I absorbed a lot and incorporated it into my experiences."

However, Verstappen's partnership with Ricciardo ended in 2018. The latter switched to Renault in an unexpected move, which didn't pan out as he expected in hindsight. Moreover, he had a brief stint with McLaren as well from 2021-22 before a fallout pushed him to a reunion with Red Bull.

In a moment of homecoming, Ricciardo joined Red Bull as a reserve driver before a seat was made available at the Racing Bulls (previously known as AlphaTauri). However, things didn't work out as Ricciardo was fired mid-season in 2024, and he will take a sabbatical in 2025 due to a lack of options.

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Max Verstappen appreciates Sergio Perez's loyalty

Max Verstappen with Sergio Perez (Image Source: Getty)

In a major fallout, Red Bull sacked Sergio Perez following the end of the 2024 season. He finished 280 points behind Max Verstappen, which might have played a role in the team's defeat in the Constructors Championship.

However, Verstappen recalled good times with Perez, reflecting on the Mexican driver's moral qualities. Speaking to Blick, he said:

"That's a shame [Perez falling 280 points short to Max in the championship], because we were a good team for four years—and Sergio was always loyal. That's a quality I really appreciate."

Perez was shown the exit door in December 2024, as Red Bull nullified the two-year extension contract that was signed mid-season in 2024. Instead, the team chose Liam Lawson as his successor for the upcoming 2025 season.

Lawson is a product of Red Bull's junior academy and impressed the team during his brief stints with sister team VCARB.