Daniel Ricciardo says potential friction with his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen is just “part of the game” in Formula 1.
Following Verstappen's move from Toro Rosso to Red Bull from last year's Spanish Grand Prix onwards, the two proved to be equally matched.
Both took one win apiece last year, although Ricciardo finished 52 points clear in the drivers’ standings.
Red Bull has a history of tension between team-mates with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. Ricciardo has admitted ahead of the new season that potential friction with Verstappen is just part of the sport.
“I can’t be naive and think we are still going to love each other no matter what, even if we are banging wheel to wheel every race,” he told The Guardian.
“We are competitors. If there is tension or friction as the season goes on that’s part of the game.
“If Lewis beats me in a Mercedes, I can tell the world he beat me because his car is better.
“But if Max beats me every race I am going to run out of excuses, so certainly your team-mate is the No1 person you want to beat.”
