Ricciardo will replace Webber, who announced this season will be his last in Formula One. PHOTO: AFP
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the 24-year-old, who will partner Germany’s triple champion Sebastian Vettel under a multi-year agreement, was ‘going to be a big star of the future’.
The decision ended speculation about Lotus’s 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen moving to the team, as well as wilder talk that Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso could be in line for a switch.
“It’s fantastic to confirm Daniel as the team’s race driver for 2014,” said Horner. “He’s a very talented youngster, he’s committed, he’s got a great attitude and in the end it was a very logical choice for us to choose Daniel.
“He’s got all the attributes that are required to drive for our team: he’s got a great natural ability, he’s a good personality and a great guy to work with. Daniel knows what the team expects from him.”
The Perth-born Australian was excited with about the move. “Since joining F1 in 2011, I hoped this would happen and over time the belief in me has grown; I had some good results and Red Bull has decided that this is it, so it’s a good time,” he said.
“Next year I’ll be with a championship-winning team, arguably the best team, and will be expected to deliver. I’m ready for that. It will be a great challenge to be up against Sebastian, I’m looking forward to that.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2013.
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