It’s time to compare perhaps the most debated driver lineup in 2017: Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are two great drivers and fans often disagree about which one is the better driver. Can statistics help us decide which one performed better in 2017?
Neither driver had a particularly lucky year in terms of reliability, largely thanks to Renault’s engine issues. There were 13 race retirements between the pair. When you look at the race statistics without the race retirements included, the average finishing position is better for Ricciardo than Verstappen. Ricciardo’s average finishing position was 3.4, while Verstappen’s was 4.2.
Looking at pure qualifying pace, Verstappen performed better than Ricciardo in 13 of the 20 races in the season, while he was also able to outrace Ricciardo in 11 of the 19 races in which at least one of the Red Bull drivers finished.
Verstappen finished the season with 2 wins to Ricciardo’s 1 win, but Ricciardo had more than twice the amount of podium finishes as Verstappen, with 9. This advantage helped Ricciardo to score more points than Verstappen in the season. However, this duo is surely one the best to watch in 2017 and it will be great to see them again with the same team in 2018.
