Verstappen happy with Ricciardo replacement
Max Verstappen says he is happy with Red Bull's pick for his new teammate.
The Dutchman says he cannot understand why Daniel Ricciardo decided to quit Red Bull and switch instead to the less competitive works Renault team.
"He had already committed to Dietrich Mateschitz, the big boss of Red Bull, so I didn't understand that," Verstappen told the Dutch publication Formule 1. "Nobody in the team understands it.
"But I never talked to him about it -- it's not my problem."
Some believe Ricciardo was worried about Red Bull's switch to Honda power, while others think the Australian decided to flee the team's increasing focus on Verstappen.
Indeed, 21-year-old Verstappen hinted that he may have had some influence over Red Bull's choice of replacement for Ricciardo.
"In the end it's not about me saying yes or no. That's not my decision," he explained.
"But I clearly told them what will work and what will not work. I am not going to mention names, but I am glad that Pierre Gasly is coming," Verstappen said.
"He is very nice and very fast, but I am afraid of no one. I fear no one," he insisted.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
Max, if you fear no one why isn't Fernando Alonso your team mate?
Because Glen, Christian Horner would never ever work with Alonso. Nando is an exception talent, but as Toto has said publicly many times 'harmony within a team is essential to success'. Nando needs, because of his ego, the be the undisputed No 1. Max and Horner and Alonso would be untenable as a working relationship.
✅ Checkout the latest 50 F1 Fans comments.