The 27-year-old Australian driver is in his third campaign with the Milton Keynes-based outfit, having replaced compatriot Mark Webber in 2014. Ricciardo played second fiddle to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in his first season, before the German departed to join Ferrari.
He was then perceived as the main driver last year when teamed up alongside Daniil Kvyat, but finished three points behind the young Russian in the final drivers’ standings. Red Bull bosses opted to replace the under-performing Kvyat with 18-year-old Verstappen, who was promoted from sister team Toro Rosso, following this season’s Russian Grand Prix.
The young Dutchman enjoyed a dream debut with victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, while Ricciardo is still searching for his first win of the campaign. However, Ricciardo is currently in third place in the drivers’ standings, 18 points ahead of Verstappen who is in sixth, and he claims the competition is helping the pair of them to improve. “I think it’s pushed me to another level and Max is in his game,” he told Motosport.com. “I mean, I’ve said it for a while now, I want to be tested in Formula 1.
Obviously I believe I can be world champion, that’s my target, but if I don’t, then at least I can say ‘Well, I tried and, OK, I’m not the best in the world, there is someone better than me’.But I like to learn. “And I think Max is a really good challenge. Obviously he’s got a whole lot of steam and love behind him. It’s a bit like Seb [Vettel], if I can get on top of Max, I think it’s only going to bode well for my future improvement.”