Daniel Ricciardo vs Max Verstappen

Lore & Background

The RB16B won the drivers' title with Max Verstappen in 2021, marking the team's first World Championship title in 8 years since Sebastian Vettel won the drivers' title and the team won the constructors' title in 2013. The RB16B became the first non-Mercedes car to win any championship since 2013, and Honda became the first Japanese and Asian engine supplier world champions of the turbo-hybrid era.

In Their Own Story

The garage was silent except for the cooling engines at Montreal. Ricciardo sat in his helmet, staring at the rear wing of his car where paint had been scraped away. Across the pit lane, Verstappen walked past without looking back. The stewards' investigation loomed over them like a storm cloud. It wasn't just about points anymore; it was about who truly belonged in the Red Bull seat.

Reader's Guide

The RB16 made its debut at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, while the RB16B made its debut at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2020 drivers were Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, with Sergio Pérez taking Albon's place for 2021. Albon became the team's test and reserve driver for the 2021 season.

Did You Know?

• The RB16 featured a narrower nose with two additional inlets at its front, a redesigned barge-board area, and smaller side-pod inlets.
• Honda brought forward its all-new RA621H power unit to 2021 after deciding to leave the sport at the end of that season.
• At the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, the RB16B wore a red and white livery inspired by Honda's first Formula One race win in 1965.
• The RB16 and RB16B competed in 39 races, winning 13 (a success rate of 33.33%).