The Australian has gone up in opposition to each Verstappen and Norris in the identical vehicles, having beforehand raced at Crimson Bull alongside the Dutch driver between 2016 and 2018.
And though he thinks it’s too early in Norris’ profession to guage how he stacks up in opposition to Verstappen, Ricciardo says that on monitor a minimum of there are some apparent similarities.
“Yeah, I believe very completely different character,” mentioned Ricciardo, in an unique interview with Autosport’s sister site Motorsport.com’s Italian edition.
“However, for instance, the talent on monitor, you might see simply the uncooked velocity is there. I see it with Lando this yr. It is perhaps somewhat bit early to check him and Max. However, for positive, he is superb. Very, superb.”
Ricciardo has had a difficult time attending to grips with a McLaren automotive that Norris has higher managed to adapt to.
However he says earlier moments in his profession – similar to his pole place in opposition to Verstappen on the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix – have assured him that he does have what it takes to combat in opposition to and beat the most effective.
Reflecting on that well-known Mexico second, which denied Verstappen the possibility to change into F1’s youngest polesitter, Ricciardo mentioned it was an essential marker for his personal self-belief.
Polesitter Daniel Ricciardo, Crimson Bull Racing, second place Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB14
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
And it was particularly candy as a result of he knew that Crimson Bull chiefs have been barely aggravated at him denying Verstappen an historic feat.
“I used to be conscious of a few of the issues, however I attempted to not pay an excessive amount of consideration,” he mentioned. “As a result of I believe as effectively, I’ve by no means been the particular person to have just like the destructive mindset.
“For me I simply needed to concentrate on driving, and that was it. However for positive, I knew if Max bought pole that weekend, he was the youngest ever polesitter, you recognize, so there was a file for him, a file for Crimson Bull.
“And for positive it is good for the model, the group, the promoting and that brings earnings. So, that enterprise aspect I get, and really for that motive I selected to not get mad.
“I simply say, ‘okay, that is enterprise’, and I do know that is sport, however additionally it is enterprise. I used to be simply very proud of myself, as a result of one yr earlier than truly in Mexico, I believe Max outqualified me by almost one second. It was a very unusual weekend.
“And all weekend in 2018 he was quickest each session, each session, after which Q3 I used to be there… from nowhere.
“For that I used to be simply proud that, you recognize, I might nonetheless do it. And clearly Max was driving very, very effectively. It simply confirmed to me the assumption I had in myself.”