Max has Learned a Lot from Daniel: Red Bull

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner believes that the partnership of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen will go down as the best pair of drivers in the team’s history.

Following Mark Webber’s retirement in 2014; Ricciardo was promoted from Toro Rosso. Verstappen swapped seats with Daniil Kvyat in 2016.

However, Ricciardo announced in 2018 that he’d be switching alliances to Renault for the 2019 season; meaning Pierre Gasly was called up from Toro Rosso to partner the brilliant Verstappen in 2019.

Horner has heaped the praise on his 2018 pair following Ricciardo’s final race for the energy drink brand.

“I said to them in our last debrief that for me, it’s been our best partnership that we’ve had in Red Bull Racing’s career,” Horner claimed. “In fact, it’s probably the best one I have ever had in my career in terms of the dynamics between the two, the respect, the way they have pushed each other on.

“I think that’s on-track, and I think they have both benefited each other off-track. Max has learned a lot from Daniel, the way he’s operated himself within the team and it’s been a very good rapport and they’ve both pushed each other to new levels.”

The two helped Red Bull to a third placed finish in the constructors’ championship in 2018; over 150 points behind second-placed Ferrari.

Now, with Honda strapped to the back and Verstappen and Gasly manning the wheel, things will be interesting. This will be Red Bull’s maiden season with the Honda power unit and it remains to be seen if they can do what McLaren couldn’t. If they started winning races, it could also be a good slap in the face for McLaren.