Ricciardo sees similarities between Hulkenberg and Verstappen

Daniel Ricciardo sees similarities between Renault team-mate Nico Hulkenberg and his former colleague at Red Bull, Max Verstappen.

Hulkenberg's future in Formula 1 is up in the air after Renault confirmed that Esteban Ocon will partner Ricciardo in 2020 ahead of the Belgian GP.

He holds the unenviable record of racing more grands prix than any driver in history without securing a podium finish, Spa-Francorchamps was the 169th race of the German's F1 career.

But Ricciardo says he has not found it plain-sailing against Hulkenberg since leaving Renault, a driver he says has similar skills to the highly-vaunted Verstappen.

"I thought he would bring his best this year and try to remind people what he feels he is capable of," Ricciardo told reporters of Hulkenberg's reaction to his own high-profile arrival at Renault.

"The first few races I saw that and there was still quite a bit for me to learn and gel with the car.

"So, I wasn't surprised when he came out pretty quick in the first few and I was like 'ah, got a bit of work to do'. Then I started to gather momentum and it's gone back-and-forth since.

"But yeah, he's quick. As far as technique goes and that, some similarities to Max in some areas."

Hulkenberg is a candidate to drive for Haas next year, if they opt to move on from Romain Grosjean and Ricciardo hopes to race against his colleague again in 2020.

"I had no indication that he was going to go," Ricciardo said.

"I'm not sure yet what his plan is. If he wants to keep racing in F1, I hope for him he finds something. He's been, I want to say, easy to work with. We kind of just did our thing.

"He's experienced, he's been around. It's kind of no-nonsense, 'we're here, we're going to race' and try to give the team as much info as possible.

"It's a relaxed approach with him and up until now it's been pretty effortless."

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