Daniel Ricciardo reveals “unexpected” phone calls which show F1 rival’s true colours

Daniel Ricciardo uncovers “surprising” calls which show F1 opponent’s real nature

Daniel Ricciardo battled for structure during two years with McLaren in which he completed eighth in 2021 and eleventh in 2022 and saw his agreement ended a year ahead of schedule

Daniel Ricciardo has hailed Sebastian Vettel for being an old buddy during his troublesome times while driving for McLaren.

Ricciardo enjoyed two years with McLaren yet battled for structure, completing eighth in 2021 and eleventh in 2022. By mutual consent, McLaren ended his contract one year early, allowing the Australian to move to Red Bell and become a third driver there.

It was a low period in Ricciardo’s F1 vocation however he was assisted through it by his previous Red Bull with joining mate Vettel. The four-time title holder enjoyed the 2014 season with Ricciardo at Red Bull prior to leaving for Ferrari and kept in contact to help him.

Ricciardo stated on the Beyond the Grid podcast, “He’s picked up the phone multiple times, and just been a friend, and just, like, showing care, just checking in, checking in as a true friend would do.” It is crucial to have such friends. But on the other hand it isn’t so much that normal, concerning the lattice.

“We continue ahead with drivers, and you truly do fabricate companionships, however to have that sort of more profound degree of friendship….some motions he made, and a portion of the consideration he displayed towards me was, as it were, somewhat startling.”

Ricciardo arrived on his feet at Red Bull in the wake of performing great in a confidential test at Silverstone to persuade Christian Horner Helmut Marko that he actually has the stuff. Reviewing that test, Ricciardo chose the second he realized he had saved his Recipe 1 vocation: ” I won’t gloss over it – the principal coordinated lap was on the cash.

“It was a couple of hundredths off Max [Verstappen]. Coming into that lap, I was so energized. I was dealing with it like a passing lap. In the car, I just had that feeling and that confidence. I kind of just knew what the car could do and be. There were parts of the car that felt so familiar to me.

“I’m not going to say it was easy or effortless, but I had a lot of faith in the car’s ability to do what it was designed to do. When I crossed the line, I thought, “I don’t know if I was expecting to go that quickly,” when I looked at the time. I realized the day could be a great day, however I’d lie assuming I said I planned to do that first lap with new tires. That was somewhat wild. It gave me a major grin.”

Ricciardo oversaw only seven races for AlphaTauri this year subsequent to missing five with a hand injury, having supplanted the striving Nyck de Vries. The 34-year-old is currently in a vastly improved position in front of the 2024 season.