Ricciardo: Too early for Norris/Verstappen F1 comparisons

The Australian has long gone up in opposition to each Verstappen and Norris within the identical autos, having beforehand raced at Purple Bull alongside the Dutch driver between 2016 and 2018.

And though he thinks it’s too early in Norris’ profession to agree with how he stacks up in opposition to Verstappen, Ricciardo says that heading within the real route now not lower than there are some obvious similarities.

“Yeah, I judge very assorted persona,” acknowledged Ricciardo, in an uncommon interview with Motorsport.com’s Italian edition. “However, as an example, the skill heading within the real route, you would request lawful the raw bustle is there. I request it with Lando this year. It’s perchance somewhat of bit early to overview him and Max. However, for move, he’s very actual. Very, very actual.”

Ricciardo has had a difficult time getting to grips with a McLaren vehicle that Norris has better managed to adapt to.

However he says earlier moments in his profession – similar to his pole region in opposition to Verstappen on the 2018 Mexican Worthy Prix – like assured him that he does like what it takes to battle in opposition to and beat the real.

Reflecting on that current Mexico moment, which denied Verstappen the prospect to significantly change F1’s youngest pole sitter, Ricciardo acknowledged it used to be a wanted marker for his collect self-perception. And it used to be in particular sweet because he knew that Purple Bull chiefs had been somewhat of pissed off at him denying Verstappen an ancient feat.

“I was mindful of just a number of the things, however I attempted now not to pay too distinguished consideration,” he acknowledged. “Because I judge as wisely, I’ve never been the person to like like the detrimental mindset.

“For me I lawful needed to level of curiosity on driving, and that used to be it. However for move, I knew if Max got pole that weekend, he used to be the youngest ever pole sitter, you recognize, so there used to be a document for him, a document for Purple Bull.

“And for move it be actual for the logo, the team, the promoting and that brings earnings. So, that industry facet I get, and in spite of the total lot for that reason I chose now not to get mad.

“I lawful converse ‘k, that is industry’, and I do know that is sport, nonetheless it’s miles also industry. I was lawful very blissful with myself, because three hundred and sixty five days sooner than in actuality in Mexico, I judge Max outqualified me by nearly one second. It used to be a extraordinarily queer weekend.

“And all weekend in 2018 he used to be fastest every session, every session, after which Q3 I was there…from nowhere.

“For that I was lawful proud that, you recognize, I might per chance mute build it. And clearly Max used to be driving very, very wisely. It lawful confirmed to me the assumption I had in myself.”