Daniel Ricciardo is seeing the positive angle of Max Verstappen’s surprise decision to sign a new contract extension with Red Bull until 2020 while insisting he will get equal treatment alongside the Dutchman.
Though it is the Australian who’s contract expires first of the two drivers, doing so at the end of next season, it was Verstappen who had been linked with a move away for 2019 with both Ferrari and Mercedes reportedly keeping a close eye.
Yet, all that ended on Friday after the new deal was announced and Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko claiming it was Max himself who initiated the process.
Asked for his reaction to his teammate’s news, Ricciardo admitted it shows a lot of trust in the team from Verstappen to make an early call, particularly after a difficult 2017.
“It’s not really got anything to do with me, but if I’m to try and extract some positives out of his news, then I think that it gives us confidence for next year,” he claimed. “Max and his management see a lot of positives in the team to continue like that.
“I’m 100 percent here next year, I can at least say that, and I think it gives us both confidence that we will keep progressing in the way that we are.”
Recently Red Bull team boss Christian Horner claimed contracts through 2020 were a priority for both Verstappen and Ricciardo. Now, with one driver signed up it would appear likely the 28-year-old will be next in line, but he is in no rush as he considers his options.
“It’s not that I’ve said no to anything,” Daniel said on his own situation.”It’s still quite early I think… I mean, people have talked a little bit about contracts and silly season for next year, but I thought that that would happen next year.”
What may also irk the five-time F1 race winner is suggestions by Horner that Verstappen should build Red Bull around him, but Ricciardo insists on a competitive level, the team is not favouring the 20-year-old.
“As far as media goes, he certainly gets a lot of attention, not that I’m trying to take that away, that’s just how it works,” he said on the star power Max has. “He’s broken a lot of records for his age and things like that so… rightly so.
“Take the media out of it, as far as things inside the team go… with new parts, things like this… there are no parity issues.”
