Ricciardo and Verstappen kept in touch: 'Nice to be together again'

Daniel Ricciardo is back at Red Bull Racing. The Australian has signed a contract as a third driver and has been reunited with good friend Max Verstappen. Speaking to Speedcafé the good-humoured driver discussed the development the Dutchman has undergone.

The eight-time race winner left the Austrian team in 2019 to try his luck elsewhere. It ended in disappointment. After a reasonable spell at Renault, with a number of podium finishes, his time at McLaren was tough. Apart from the unexpected victory at Monza, Ricciardo underperformed compared to the younger Lando Norris on a weekly basis. He is therefore happy to be back at Red Bull. "It's actually really nice to be back at Red Bull, but also to work with Max again," Ricciardo said.

In recent years, the 33-year-old Ricciardo watched from a distance. ''In the years I was away, I have seen him grow and mature. Certainly as a driver, but also as a person." He saw the driver Verstappen change. "While I was away he became world champion twice, then you see the growth and successes of him as a driver."

The two have always kept in touch: "We used to app together and so on, so it's nice to see that we are here together again now." So has Verstappen changed on a personal level? "To be honest, he doesn't seem different, apart from the fact that he has become more mature."