Formula One fans were thrilled when Daniel Ricciardo returned to Red Bull at the start of the season, but maybe not quite as happy as Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo have been friends for a long time (Image: Getty Images)
Get ready everybody – the bromance of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen is back on.
The two F1 superstars were reunited at the start of the 2022-23 season when Ricciardo surprisingly signed for Red Bull as a third driver. The Australian, 34, had a huge smile on his face when he returned after a difficult spell with McLaren, which saw him get released from his contract a year early, after being overtaken by Lando Norris.
Verstappen, who won his second F1 World Championship this year in dominant fashion, initially said he was pleased when the Honey Badger returned. However, if recently unseen footage from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is anything to go by, Verstappen was probably a lot happier than he was initially making out to be.
There was a clip of Verstappen talking to the Red Bull team while he was in the pits at the Lusail International Circuit. He could be heard saying to his baffled colleagues: “Daniel and I have… a little bromance going on here at the pit exit.”
When asked to explain, the Dutchman said: “Daniel’s waving at me and making a heart sign.”
Max: "Daniel and I have… a little bromance going on here at the pit exit."
GP: "..sorry Max?"
Max: "Daniel's waving at me and making a heart sign."
— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) November 27, 2023
The video has amused many people on social media, particularly those who support Verstappen and Red Bull. The two-time F1 champion was one of the first people to express his joy when Ricciardo returned to the Red Bull family. All the way back in July, he said: “I spoke already quite a bit with Daniel last week – I could see he was very excited, also after driving our car,” said the two-time world champion.
“It’s great to have Daniel back on the grid within the family. I never actually wanted him to leave. We know that we get on really well. If Daniel does well where he is now, then of course you have the opportunity to go back up. So it’s all open, to be honest.”
There could be a lot more funny moments to come with the two Red Bull aces (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Before the Hungarian GP, Ricciardo added: “I had enough time off to reset and enjoy it again. I already felt that on the simulator so far this year, but that’s why I also wanted to drive the car [at the test] and really make sure it’s still truly what I love doing most.
“I was up to speed really quick and it felt really good again, and obviously tasting the Red Bull car got me pretty excited and everything that happened the last few years and getting back into the sport, taking some time off, I knew it was going to be very hard to go back in at the top.”
