Daniel Ricciardo details private Sebastian Vettel phone calls

Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo at 2022 McLaren launch

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Daniel Ricciardo has admitted Sebastian Vettel held private talks after the Australian was ditched by McLaren. Ricciardo opened up on how his former team-mate called him on several occasions after a difficult season began to unravel.

According to Speedcafe.com, Ricciardo said: “He’s picked up the phone multiple times this year and just been a friend and just showing care and just checking in as a true friend will do. To have friends like that is so important, but it’s also not that common in terms of on the grid.

“We get on with drivers, and you do build friendships, but to have that deeper level of friendship… some gestures he made this year, and some of the kindness he showed towards me was, in a way, unexpected but just super.”

The 33-year-old was let go by McLaren after signing highly-rated rookie Oscar Piastri for 2023. Ricciardo was expected to remain on the grid for another team but signed up as Red Bull’s third driver to get time away from the circuit.

It means the pair’s F1 exits are rather different with Ricciardo plotting a 2024 return as Vettel closes his chapter in the sport after securing four world titles. Ricciardo suffered a miserable season at McLaren as he struggled to match team-mate Lando Norris.

The Briton outscored Ricciardo a staggering 17 times and finished over 80 points ahead in the Drivers’ Championship. Ricciardo stressed he was “appreciative” of Vettel’s help and hinted he was not the only one to offer a hand in recent weeks.

He added: “Obviously it had a bit more emphasis around the time of all the contract stuff happening when there was a lot of noise.

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“I don’t want to single him out because it was some other drivers, but he was the one that was certainly picking up the phone pretty often and checking in. On a personal level, some things that he’s done for me, yeah, just very, very appreciative of.”

“I think he’s a very caring individual, cares about the sport as a whole, but also cares about us drivers. We’re all competitors, for sure, but I think he’s definitely able to separate that and just look out for us.”

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