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."