Daniel Ricciardo says it motivates him every time he hears people predict how many titles Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen can win in Formula One.

Ricciardo and Verstappen is arguably the best driver line-up on the current grid and enjoyed a good relationship during their first season together in 2016, in which they both claimed a race victory. Many predict that harmony will not remain this year if Red Bull is in a position to challenge for a championship.

Though Ricciardo relishes the friendly competition of his teenage teammate, he admits Verstappen's growing hype is perfect motivation for his own performances.

"It helps having a competitive teammate, absolutely," Ricciardo told ESPN. "You might think you're driving at your full potential and you think 'woah, hold on a minute, there is another tenth in that corner, or this and that. It is good to have that constant pressure and that good rivalry.

"Max is obviously talked about and is very popular and a lot of people expect him to win world titles and that so for me it's a good motivation for me to be like, 'let's stop this train'! Not in a sour way, but a good competitive way. I like having someone alongside me who is strong. Yeah it would be nice to win every race but you learn a lot more about yourself so I'm enjoying it."

Red Bull has previous experience of a frosty atmosphere between teammates fighting for a title, with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at odds for much of their five years together between 2009 and 2013. Team boss Christian Horner has previously said the team is better prepared to deal with a similar situation in future, but Webber, who retired in 2013, believes it would be a natural by-product of success.

When asked about the possibility of a Ricciardo-Verstappen feud at the launch of Channel 4's UK TV coverage of the new season, Webber told ESPN: "Totally not an issue if there's not consistent wins on the cards. If they just have a couple of wins each this season, then it will be fine. But if they're in a position to fight for a championship it will become tasty, so let's see.

"They seem to have a good relationship at the moment, as good as you'd expect in that situation. It only comes on the radar if the championship goes deep into the season and you're fighting consistently for victories off each other... It's the same for Sebastian [Vettel] and Kimi [Raikkonen] if Ferrari is in a position to challenge. That [situation] can become quite challenging."