Max Verstappen has revealed some Red Bull team members are making jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's recent run of Renault engine problems.
The Australian retired for the seventh time this season at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday and the fifth occasion where power unit associated issues were to blame.
In addition, he also suffered engine problems in qualifying back in Japan, letting out an audible scream through his crash helmet in his most noticeable sign of frustration.
With Ricciardo leaving Red Bull at the end of the year to join Renault while the Milton Keynes-based outfit switches to Honda engines, Verstappen admits the irony has caused some to see the funny side.
“Daniel punched a hole in the wall between our rooms,” he told Holland's Ziggo Sport, backing up what Christian Horner said after the race in Austin.
“I think within the team there are secretly some jokes being made about it but for the team it is just very bad. I know exactly how he feels, as I experienced it often enough last year.
“It’s just bad.”
Another man poking fun at Ricciardo is Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
“Poor him, he will have to live with these problems for another two years,” the Austrian said.
“Next year with the Honda engine I think we can fight for the world championship, the project is really very good and I’m absolutely serious.”
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Horner also admitted surprise that somehow all the Renault-based problems are falling on the 'Honey Badger's' side of the garage.
“What’s ironic is it’s always on his car. It was the other way round last year with Max but as Renault’s premier driver I think you wouldn’t expect these issues to be happening.
“From a team point of view, all we want to do is finish the year on a high with him and have a chance to celebrate the time that he has been with us.
“It’s just unfortunate that these things keep happening.”
