Daniel Ricciardo praises Verstappen’s F1 championship comeback: “Max is a war machine”. Daniel Ricciardo applauds Max Verstappen’s dominant US GP victory.

Daniel Ricciardo celebrated Max Verstappen’s dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix, calling him “absurd” for his extraordinary skill. The former teammate followed the race live with fans, commenting on the Dutchman’s comeback in the title fight. Thanks to recent Red Bull upgrades and a dip in Oscar Piastri’s form, Verstappen is now just 40 points from the top, with five races still to go. For Daniel Ricciardo, the 2025 championship has become “even more exciting.”

Ricciardo comments on Verstappen’s weekend

Daniel Ricciardo, who was Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull from 2016 to 2018, shared his thoughts on the US GP through a WhatsApp chat with fans throughout the race. The Australian described Verstappen as “absurd” after his latest triumph in Austin.

“Haha yes. Max is absurd. The guy is really good. Yes, I’m stating the obvious,” Daniel Ricciardo wrote.

Verstappen reopens the championship fight

Thanks to a resurgence after the summer break, Max Verstappen now has a real chance to win a fifth consecutive championship. Not long ago, he was more than 100 points behind Piastri in the standings. A recent Red Bull update has transformed the RB21, making it more manageable and, crucially, better suited to Max Verstappen’s preferences. This coincided with a dip in Piastri’s form, who struggled at the US GP. The Australian finished fifth, far from the leaders, and found it difficult to keep pace even with teammate Lando Norris.

Daniel Ricciardo admitted that Verstappen’s strong form in the latter part of the season is making the title fight more thrilling.

“I can’t wait, and Max is making this championship even more exciting than it already was.”

Daniel Ricciardo’s words carry extra weight compared to anyone else’s. Why? The Australian shared the Red Bull garage with Verstappen and knows exactly what kind of driver he is, making his praise all the more significant. We’ll see what happens, but it’s clear that the 2025 championship battle is heating up and promises intense action in the remaining races.