Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has praised the work being done by Red Bull development driver and former team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who’s testing the RB19 for the first-time this week.
Ricciardo will be driving the dominant RB19 at the Silverstone International Circuit on Tuesday, in a Pirelli tyre test.
Verstappen claimed his sixth consecutive victory of the season on Sunday at Silverstone, following another sensational display at the British Grand Prix.
The Dutchman overcame an early setback which saw him overtaken by Lando Norris, something which resulted in a huge cheer from the British crowd.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
When DRS was activated though, the two-time World Champion breezed past the McLaren driver to reclaim the lead.
He went on to win with relative ease, to complete another perfect weekend.
Verstappen claimed pole position, victory and the fastest lap, increasing his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 99 points over Sergio Perez.
Perez had yet another disappointing event, as he failed to make Q3 for the fifth race in a row.
The Mexican was embarrassingly eliminated in Q1, before recovering to sixth in the race.
His title chances are very much over, with Verstappen having admitted ahead of the British GP that he’s currently winning the Constructors’ Championship for Red Bull “on my own”, due to Perez’s ongoing struggles.
“Obviously we’re also fighting for the constructors’ championship win, but I think I’m going to have to do it on my own at the moment,” Verstappen said ahead of the British GP.
Verstappen has taken a few shots at Perez recently; however, he’s done nothing of the sort towards Ricciardo.
The Dutchman has been full of praise for Ricciardo, who he admitted he talks to “about a lot of things”.
“Daniel is doing a good job in the simulator, which doesn’t surprise me either, because he hasn’t lost his talent. I think he’s comfortable with us,” Verstappen said.
READ: Toto Wolff surprised Lewis Hamilton came up short in Lando Norris fight
The Dutchman added: “He listens a lot and asks a lot. I know Daniel very well, so we can talk about a lot of things.”
Whether Verstappen would like Ricciardo to replace Perez is unknown, with it being a topic that he’s not prepared to “talk about”.
“I don’t talk about that,” Verstappen insisted.