What sets F1 apart from all other sports? The inter-team rivalries. Historic moments find their foundation in these battles. World Champion or rookie, none leaves the track without giving a tough fight to each other. Mark Webber vs Sebastian Vettel, and Alain Prost vs Ayrton Senna, are a few examples out of many, that have gone down in history as the greatest inter-team rivalries of all time. Amongst those, there is also Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen’s 2018 Azerbaijan GP crash which will be remembered for a long time.

Max and Daniel weren’t particularly rivals in the greater sense. But Baku saw a different side of the two drivers. And soon Red Bull‘s dynamics witnessed a massive shift. Ricciardo left the team the same year the horrific crash happened. Now, after 6 years since that fateful day – the ‘Honey Badger’ revealed the aftermath of the clash.

Daniel Ricciardo exposes behind-the-scenes of the 2018 Baku crash with Max Verstappen

While speaking with The Red Flags Podcast, Ricciardo told how the tagline ‘Well Done Baku’ changed for them after the 2018 crash. “So the first year we went there, all the circuit branding said ‘Well done Baku’ so they’re like congratulating themselves. After this incident like ‘Well done Baku’ (in a sarcastic tone),” the 35-year-old said.“You never want teammates to clash. Maybe the fans do but the team doesn’t,” the Aussie further stated. Of course, why would any team want their drivers to crash into each other? That causes nothing but a waste of resources and no points are added to the tally.

“So if you’re going to ask me did you get an absolute bollocking after this? Yes. Did we get called to the teacher’s classroom or the teacher’s desk or whatever you call it, the principal’s office? Yes, we did.” Daniel Ricciardo revealed the repercussions of the infamous crash. Christian Horner was fuming following the crash. And why shouldn’t he? After all, his team ended the race without a single point! He even called it the “most frustrating thing in the world.” Ricciardo then explained what had happened. “We’d hit wheels a few times, we should have known that it was starting to escalate and eventually, it did,” the veteran confessed.

“The decibels in the office afterward –  let’s just say Max and I weren’t the only ones that would have heard the bollocking,” Ricciardo concluded. The Aussie implied that the entire racing crew was held accountable for the horrifying accident. And now, with speculations once again building up on Daniel Ricciardo’s potential return to Red Bull, will there be another Baku 2018? Hopefully not! So, what exactly happened at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Revisiting the all-Red Bull crash at the 2018 Azerbaijan GP

The Ricciardo-Verstappen collision in 2018, was long-dragged until lap 41. Reb Bull was the third fastest after Mercedes and Ferrari. Both drivers were fighting for the fourth and fifth spots. Since the beginning of the race, the Red Bull’s air seemed hotter than normal. Wheel banging and barging for position saw Daniel and Max inching closer to each other in Turns 1 and 2. They were lucky enough to avoid an immediate collision, but not for long. Ricciardo pitted on Lap 38, but a slow out-lap allowed Verstappen, on warmer tires, to regain the lead when he stopped.

This meant Ricciardo had to pass Verstappen all over again. But this time, the younger one did not give any space. Charging down the main straight, Max was plotting to break Ricciardo’s streak who was now in the DRS range. Daniel then shifted a bit to the right as if he was trying to overtake Max. The Dutchman fell for it and Ricciardo squeezed to his left to claim the upper hand – swinging Max out. Verstappen’s instincts were slower than he thought and moved in to defend. But to no avail. The result? One destroyed front wing and one diffuser for the rubbish skip.

The 2018 Baku crash significantly influenced Daniel Ricciardo’s exit from Red Bull, as he felt the team favored Max Verstappen. Six years later, both drivers acknowledged their immature behavior that day. The incident highlighted the complex team dynamics and pressures in F1. As speculation grows about Ricciardo’s return to Red Bull, the Baku crash serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between rivalry and teamwork in Formula 1.