Max Verstappen aims cheeky dig at Daniel Ricciardo ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix
MAX VERSTAPPEN has thanked Australian F1 fans for their welcome in the first Grand Prix of the season, while aiming a cheeky dig at Daniel Ricciardo.
Max Verstappen joked that there is plenty more to Australia than just Daniel Ricciardo
Verstappen finished a disappointing sixth at the Australian Grand Prix two weekends back.
The Dutchman has since toured Australia as he takes time off before the preparations start for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The second race of the f1 calendar gets underway this weekend, with Verstappen expected to step up after his middling performance in Melbourne.
The Dutchman has been active on social media as he has toured Australia and has now sent a farewell message to his fans Down Under.
“As I leave for the #BahrainGP, I would like to thank everybody in Australia for the two weeks I got to spend in your country,” Verstappen wrote on Instagram.
Your country has so much more to offer than just @danielricciardo
He then followed up the message by adding: “I had an absolute blast and was happy to see your country has so much more to offer than just @danielricciardo.”
Red Bull team-mates Max Verstappen and Ricciardo are understood to get on on and off the track, although both men are viable contenders for F1 honours.
Australian Ricciardo and 20-year-old Verstappen were both linked with a seat at Mercedes during the winter.
Max Verstappen is one of the contenders for the F1 title this year
Max Verstappen (right) and Daniel Ricciardo are both eyeing glory with Red Bull this year
Mercedes could let Valtteri Bottas go at the end of the 2018 season, with one of the Red Bull drivers potentially taking over.
Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull until 2020, while Ricciardo’s expires at the end of this season.
Ferrari have also been mooted as a possible option for Ricciardo.