SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

Verstappen made Ricciardo better driver

Red Bull's race drivers have admitted they are each pushing the other on in 2017.

"When Max arrived at Red Bull, it made me take a step forward," Daniel Ricciardo said at Sepang.

Earlier this year, Red Bull made a mid-season driver change, sending Daniil Kvyat back to Toro Rosso and promoting the Dutch sensation Verstappen.

"I thought I looked good compared to Daniil in the first few races before Russia," Australian Ricciardo added. "But then Max came, and it turned out that I could do even better."

When told about Ricciardo's comments, 18-year-old Verstappen said: "I have made progress too.

"From the beginning we have had an excellent working relationship -- he is a very open and easy going guy and I think it's all good for the team."

(GMM)