Ricciardo expects Verstappen to rank among F1’s greats

Daniel Ricciardo expects Max Verstappen to be remembered among Formula 1’s greatest drivers, praising his former team-mate after Red Bull’s first win with its own Ford-backed power-unit project.

Ricciardo and Verstappen were team-mates at Red Bull from 2016 until the end of 2018. Speaking on the Cars and Culture with Jason Stein podcast, Ricciardo recalled their time together fondly and said their intense rivalry pushed them both to another level. He called Verstappen an exceptional talent. Ricciardo is now a Ford ambassador.

Ford’s partnership with Red Bull Powertrains made its race debut in 2026; the project’s first win came in October at Sepang, where the Bahrain Grand Prix was moved after the race at Sakhir was cancelled. Ricciardo won the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix at the same circuit, leading Verstappen home in a Red Bull one-two.

Ricciardo said he could not comprehend everything that had gone into Red Bull and Ford’s first season together, and that Verstappen was the ideal driver to secure the project’s first win. After the victory, he sent a message of congratulations to Verstappen and several Red Bull team members he still speaks with. Ricciardo said it was well received.