“I Detached Myself” – Daniel Ricciardo on Max Verstappen ‘Jealousy’ Claims After His Red Bull F1 Exit

What could have been! Daniel Ricciardo left the Red Bull team at the end of the 2018 season. He was part of the Red Bull Junior Academy and came up through the ranks to join the team in 2014. The Aussie left the team in 2018, wanting to take up a fresh challenge.

His then-teammate Max Verstappen has just won his first world championship in F1 with Red Bull. The McLaren driver states that he is not jealous or envious of his former team’s achievement.

WATCH STORY: Everything You Need to Know About Daniel Ricciardo’s Famous Tattoos

Weirdly enough, I’d be very, very happy for them!: Daniel Ricciardo

Since leaving the Milton Keynes outfit, Ricciardo has been on the podium just three times in three years with two different teams and has won only one race since the infamous 2018 Monaco Grand Prix. However, the Mclaren driver insists that he is happy with his decision.

“Looking at Max this year, I 100 percent don’t feel any envy, jealousy, or weirdness to him or the team. Weirdly enough, I’d be very, very happy for them!” said the Aussie driver.

Ricciardo was very clear when he was leaving the team and states that he does not have any regrets regarding the decision.

“I don’t have any [regrets]. People probably thought, ‘I wonder what Daniel thought this year, would he also have been fighting for a championship?’. Up until right now, I haven’t actually thought about that. I think it’s hard to answer in a way that… the easiest way to say it is, I really did, and not in a negative way, I detached myself from it.

Once I closed the book with Red Bull, I really tried to put all my energy into the next part. I really didn’t have any over-hanging, like, what could’ve, what should’ve.” said Ricciardo.

Ricciardo remains the only driver to beat Verstappen during their time together as teammates. Still, it would not be a certainty that he would be in the championship fight with him and Hamilton.

It’s nice to see that the Aussie has moved on in his life and career. Where do you think Ricciardo will finish in the drivers’ standings in 2022?

READ MORE: Daniel Ricciardo cars