Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen took their racing mentality to the water as they battled it out in Red Bull Sailingโs 40-foot catamaran and the GC32 foiling multihull.ย
Both drivers claimed victory on the water as they were put through their paces on Lake Balaton on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix by double Olympic gold medallists Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher.
The day began at a slow pace as Ricciardo and Verstappen got to grips with theirย unfamiliar cockpits before the speed โ at 33knots (38mph) admittedly slower than inย Formula 1โs fast lane – and the competition ramped up.
Ricciardo teamed up with Hagara in the GC32 while Verstappen was paired withย Steinacher, the latter duo almost nose diving into the water from the outset because of theย high winds.
โI had never sailed before in my life but this was actually very cool and really fast,โ saidย Verstappen. โI learned a lot from Roman and Hans Peter, and I think it was a great start intoย sailing.”
Verstappenโs boating rival Ricciardo, meanwhile, said: โI guess extreme sailing is the bestย way to describe it, and I hadnโt done anything like this before, not on a weapon like this.ย The boats are impressive โ the pure size and the height of the sails were bigger thanย anticipated. I found myself on the winch most of the time, and apparently we nearlyย capsized but they made me feel safe so I didnโt think much of it.โ
Like any speed rivals, though, neither gave an inch and both crews disputed the result ofย the racing. Steinacher claimed: โMax and I were leading but the finish line was alwaysย moving. I was pretty sure we had done it.โ Hagara, meanwhile, suggested: โIt was a reallyย close finish and we thought we won so we celebrated by jumping into the water.โ Probablyย best to call it a draw!
Ricciardo goes into this weekendโs race at the Hungaroring a place ahead of hisย teammate in the driversโ standings in fifth place. The Australian, who won the race in 2014,ย said: โI love the circuit. Iโve had good memories there. Itโs tight, twisty and a goodย atmosphere, and I think itโs going to be one of our stronger circuits to date. Quietlyย confident.โ
Thanks to Red Bull Content Pool.