RIC has a great challenger this year

Last year VER couldn't completely match up with RIC?

Last year Verstappen had slightly more race pace in total in his RB time and was a bit more unlucky in his RB. Ricciardo was clearly better in qualification but Verstappen was starting to do his own setup since Malaysia.

Very unlucky in his short 2016 STR time with a failed pitstop in Australia which cost him 5 places (5th>10th), an engine fail in Russia (P6 >DNF). And from the RB: Baku qualification compromise despite it he finished 8th. 3 GPs in a row clutch issues (Spa - Monza - Singapore), DNF in COTA, Malaysia he could win with the tires he had but was boxed anyway.

This year a comparison: Australia: Quali; Ric crashed, bit unlucky because the car had an unstable rear and a crappy setup window so don't want to compare. Race: can't compare, Daniel DNF. China: Quali; can't compare Max had a gears failure. Race; Max was better. Bahrein: Quali; cant compare (traffic for Max) Race; Max overtook Daniel and DNF. Sochi: Quali; cant compare (broken floor found out next day). Race; Max overtook Daniel but Daniel DNF. Spain: Max better in quali. Race; can't compare Max DNF. Monaco: Quali cant compare (traffic for Daniel). Race; can't compare because of pit strategy.

/r/formula1 Thread