Daniel Ricciardo says he understands Max Verstappen's “desire for racing” and willingness “to stand his ground”, with the Australian confident that his Red Bull team-mate will come of age.
Verstappen has come under fire for his aggressive driving at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and received “a gentle warning” from the FIA ahead of Friday practice at Monza. With Verstappen stealing the limelight, Ricciardo was asked for his take on the Dutchman’s antics.
“I can’t comment first hand but sure, I’ve seen the replays, I understand Kimi’s point of view, but I also understand Max’s intentions and desire for racing and for wanting to be a real fighter on the track that I also respect,” he replied.
“You’ve just got to find a balance, he’ll find it, he’s obviously still very young I was nowhere near Formula 1 at 18 years old so he’s already in a different position to me.
“I think the basics for him are in the right place; he wants to fight he wants to battle and wants to stand his own ground so it’s not all that bad.”
A defiant Verstappen told the media on Thursday that he would not change his gung-ho approach to racing but Ricciardo believes the 18-year-old will eventually heed other drivers’ recommendations as he grows more mature.
“I think he will if everyone keeps giving him a hard time. I think he will because it’s probably just age coming out, I know when I was – I mean I’m still immature – but at that age you’re going through a lot and you’re growing up from a boy to a man, you want to be your own man, so when someone tells you to do something I think your natural reaction is to oppose it.
“I think it’s just a bit of that coming out and maybe a bit of frustration after the race, I don’t expect it to change night and day this weekend, perhaps it will just be refined over the course of the season.”
REPORT: Hamilton fastest as Ferrari closes gap in FP2
Silbermann says ... Mad about Max, Monza and Massa
Claire Williams on Felipe Massa and 2017 driver plans
Romain Grosjean column: Speed, sponsors and scheduling
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
F1 fans near and far were treated to a thrilling qualifying at the Austrian GP,…
Lewis Hamilton believes that Ferrari’s best chance of disrupting Mercedes in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix…
George Russell was not about to let a cloud of controversy hang over his Austrian…
Max Verstappen was left staring at what might have been after a dramatic final qualifying…
George Russell will start the Austrian Grand Prix from pole position after surviving a post-session…
Full results from qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg, round 8 of the…