Daniel Ricciardo like an older brother to Max Verstappen - Horner
Daniel Ricciardo has been like an older brother to Red Bull Formula 1 team-mate Max Verstappen this season, according to their team boss Christian Horner
The two were made team-mates when Red Bull demoted Daniil Kvyat to Toro Rosso and promoted Verstappen ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Despite the potential for ructions as Verstappen made a winning debut, they have forged a good relationship off-track while on-track, Ricciardo has previously said he felt Verstappen's arrival in the team made him raise his level.
"The most important thing is there is respect," Horner told Autosport.
"We don't ask drivers to go out to dinner with each other but ask that they respect each other and respect the team.
"The two have done exactly that and the fact that their relationship goes beyond that is only a benefit to us.
"Daniel in many ways has almost been like an older brother to Max.
"Their feedback is very similar, the demands from the car are very similar.
"Very often when you're listening in, in qualifying or the race, the comments about the car are almost identical so for the designers and R&D guys it's a great scenario to have both drivers chasing the same thing."
Ricciardo and Verstappen were evenly matched as Red Bull team-mates in racing situations, with Ricciardo edging the points head-to-head 220-191 and race finish head-to-head 8-7.
In qualifying, Ricciardo stretched his advantage, qualifying ahead of Verstappen 11 times to six.
When asked if he could split the two drivers in terms of performance, Horner said: "It's very very difficult to.
"Some weekends one has the upper hand, other weekends the other one has.
"It has been very finely balanced depending on the venue that we're at."
Should Red Bull give Ricciardo and Verstappen a car capable of challenging for the title in 2017, Horner said he planned to keep the rules of engagement "simple".
"We'll deal with situations on a race by race basis - it's how I've always believed in things," he said.
"There's enough rules as it is.
"Keep it simple, it's always been my philosophy in the approach to the sport, keep it simple."
Previous article
Aerodynamics a key flaw of 2016 Williams F1 car, says Claire Williams
Next article
Raikkonen: Ferrari suffered thanks to failure to fight for F1 title
Verstappen v Hamilton: Who was at fault?
Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying analysis
How Red Bull endured its second car crash in two weeks
OPINION: Red Bull was justified to be upset that Lewis Hamilton survived his British GP clash with Max Verstappen and went on to win. But its attempts to lobby the FIA to reconsider the severity of Hamilton's in-race penalty were always likely to backfire, and have only succeeded in creating a PR disaster that will distract from its on-track efforts
The ‘screaming’ F1 engine future that may not be out of reach
OPINION: It wasn't just the Verstappen/Hamilton clash that had the Red Bull and Mercedes bosses at loggerheads at Silverstone, with the nature of Formula 1's 2025 engines also subject for disagreement. But hopes to have loud, emotive engines that are also environmentally friendly don't have to be opposed
The drivers that need to strike gold before F1's summer break
OPINION: Formula 1 is about to break up for summer 2021, with the title battles finely poised. But it’s not just the latest round of Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton that will be worth watching this weekend in Hungary, as plenty of drivers are eying big results to change the stories of their seasons so far
How Lotus F1 uncovered, then squandered its last ‘unfair advantage’
Cast in the mould of its founder Colin Chapman, Lotus was powerful and daring but flawed – as it proved through further soaring peaks and painful troughs into the 1980s. DAMIEN SMITH examines a game-changing era
The core problems Yas Marina’s long-awaited tweaks won't address
OPINION: Changes to the layout of Abu Dhabi’s circuit aim to reverse the trend of insipid Formula 1 races there - the promoter has even described one of the new corners as “iconic”. And that, argues STUART CODLING, is one of this venue’s abiding failings
How Ferrari offered Britain's next F1 prospect what Red Bull couldn't
Last year's Formula 2 runner-up Callum Ilott could be on his way to becoming the first Briton to contest a grand prix in an Alfa Romeo since Reg Parnell in 1950. But, says OLEG KARPOV, the Ferrari Driver Academy protege is having to temper his ambition at the moment – outwardly at least…
The signs that point to F1's rude health
OPINION: Formula 1's calendar might still be facing disruption as the pandemic affects travel but, says MARK GALLAGHER, the business itself is fundamentally strong thanks to the epic rivalry taking place on track and the consistent arrival of new sponsors
The unexpected benefit of F1’s sprint race repeat
OPINION: Formula 1's sprint race trial at Silverstone drew mixed feedback on Saturday, but there remained the true test of how it would impact Sunday's Grand Prix. While fans were busy marvelling at Fernando Alonso's progress, a key lesson was being learned that would directly contribute to the dramatic lap one clash at Copse the following day
