'Unfair': Max Verstappen shuts down Daniel Ricciardo comparison
Max Verstappen has shut down any suggestion Daniel Ricciardo was the only racer that could match him in a Red Bull car after the Australian jumped teams in 2019.
Ricciardo and Verstappen experienced a competitive relationship while the pair were No.1 and No.2 at Red Bull.
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The Australian was the more experienced driver and it wasn't until 2018 that Verstappen finished with more podium finishes at Red Bull.
Before the 2019 season, Ricciardo moved to Renault.
Team director Christian Horner described Ricciardo's move as "running away from a fight", before the Australian eventually joined McLaren.
However, in a recent interview with GP Racing, Verstappen denied a claim that Ricciardo was the only driver that could match him in the same race car and that he would have struggled now.
Verstappen said his skills, which came with experience in an F1 car, has seen him rise above the field.
“I think I also got better eventually, because I have more and more experience...So I find it also difficult to really compare fairly, you know," Verstappen said.
“I find it a bit unfair to say that he was maybe more close, and I think there are a lot of things to it. For sure, at the time, Daniel is, you know … He’s still quite a bit older and more experienced.
“But I think I gained a lot of experience in the last few years...And I definitely think there the big jump started to happen, which I think is a natural process in the first five years of your F1 career.”
Daniel Ricciardo accused of 'dirty' move
Verstappen took out the US Grand Prix to extend his championship lead, but Ricciardo's race wasn't without drama.
Ferrari rival Carlos Sainz accused him of a 'dirty' move as the two tussled for position late in the race.
Sainz tried to overtake Ricciardo around the outside on Lap 43 but made contact with the Aussie driver, forcing Sainz back behind Ricciardo.
The Spaniard wasn't particularly impressed with Ricciardo's tactics to avoid the overtake.
“That got a bit dirty. He did that on purpose,” Sainz said on team radio.
However leading commentator Martin Brundle didn't see it that way.
“I don’t think I saw a lot of relative movement (from Ricciardo)," Brundle said. "I don’t think stewards will be too upset with that.”
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