Red Bull confirm Ricciardo for 2014
Discussion
Autosport said:
Daniel Ricciardo will be Sebastian Vettel's team-mate in 2014, after Red Bull announced him as its new driver on Monday.
Following weeks of speculation about who would land the second seat at the reigning champion team, Red Bull confirmed Ricciardo on its own Servus TV channel.
Ricciardo will follow in the footsteps of his Australian compatriot Mark Webber and makes the switch from Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso.
The destiny of the Red Bull seat has been the focus of Formula 1's silly season for weeks, with Ricciardo heading off tough opposition from Kimi Raikkonen for the prized drive.
Although he had been widely expected to get the drive ever since Raikkonen's management revealed last month that talks with the team had broken down, Red Bull still delayed announcing its decision.
Team principal Christian Horner had suggested that the team wanted to know what other options were on offer - which included Raikkonen and an outside possibility of Fernando Alonso.
Although suggesting in Belgium that an announcement may not happen until after this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull has elected to confirm its plans now.
Ricciardo will make the jump up to Red Bull after two full seasons with Toro Rosso, and a half campaign for the HRT team in 2011.
Following weeks of speculation about who would land the second seat at the reigning champion team, Red Bull confirmed Ricciardo on its own Servus TV channel.
Ricciardo will follow in the footsteps of his Australian compatriot Mark Webber and makes the switch from Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso.
The destiny of the Red Bull seat has been the focus of Formula 1's silly season for weeks, with Ricciardo heading off tough opposition from Kimi Raikkonen for the prized drive.
Although he had been widely expected to get the drive ever since Raikkonen's management revealed last month that talks with the team had broken down, Red Bull still delayed announcing its decision.
Team principal Christian Horner had suggested that the team wanted to know what other options were on offer - which included Raikkonen and an outside possibility of Fernando Alonso.
Although suggesting in Belgium that an announcement may not happen until after this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull has elected to confirm its plans now.
Ricciardo will make the jump up to Red Bull after two full seasons with Toro Rosso, and a half campaign for the HRT team in 2011.
m444ttb said:
It'll be interesting to see firstly how good he really is compared to SV. Perhaps more interestingly if he is some way off how much of a chance he gets. Two seasons? Less?
You will never get a fair comparison. He will never have the latest updates and he will have Webber's starting software if he qualifies within 2 places of Vettel.MG CHRIS said:
Kind of obvious, why would red bull spend millions on a younger drivers team and program to then not pick a driver within it.
Happy to see ricciardo get his chance and see how well he goes alongside vettel.
This. Although he will get the same car/software at australia so he does well and gets good headlines/vindicates their choice/local boy done good, then hell play second fiddle the rest of the seasonHappy to see ricciardo get his chance and see how well he goes alongside vettel.
On facebook one of the RB guys claimed that the driver programme was 'new driver spotting' not 'driver development' - i.e. they don't have a ladder system, they just have lots of seats to fill.
Great news for Danny - hope it works out for him. Nice to have a proper bloke replacing a proper bloke!
Great news for Danny - hope it works out for him. Nice to have a proper bloke replacing a proper bloke!
This was the obvious and predictable choice really. Shame really as putting Kimi or Alonso in there would have made for a very interesting season. I suspect all the top seats will pretty much stay as they are now - Kimi at Lotus, Massa getting yet another chance with Ferrari and Button/Perez being confirmed for Mclaren.
Obviously he is one of their young drivers, but has he actually done anything spectacular to warrant it on a purely skills basis? Nothing springs to mind for me.
That said, he will be in the best (probably) car so that will make a big difference to his results.
I wanted Kimi there so badly. No way he would take any s
t from Vettel 
Ricciardo seems like a nice chap though so best of luck to hm.
That said, he will be in the best (probably) car so that will make a big difference to his results.
I wanted Kimi there so badly. No way he would take any s
t from Vettel Ricciardo seems like a nice chap though so best of luck to hm.
Article on GPUpdate.net today saying that Vettel will NOT be given priority and that he will not have number 1 status when Danny joins, does this mean that he is getting a demotion in the team when Mark leaves, cos he definately has those 2 with Mark 
Article on GPUpdate.net today saying that Vettel will NOT be given priority and that he will not have number 1 status when Danny joins, does this mean that he is getting a demotion in the team when Mark leaves, cos he definately has those 2 with Mark
vescaegg said:
Obviously he is one of their young drivers, but has he actually done anything spectacular to warrant it on a purely skills basis? Nothing springs to mind for me.
That said, he will be in the best (probably) car so that will make a big difference to his results.
I wanted Kimi there so badly. No way he would take any st from Vettel
Ricciardo seems like a nice chap though so best of luck to hm.
I agree with this.... Ricciardo does seem very likable but there are more impressive drivers out there.....Hulkenberg and di Resta for a start. That said, he will be in the best (probably) car so that will make a big difference to his results.
I wanted Kimi there so badly. No way he would take any s
t from Vettel Ricciardo seems like a nice chap though so best of luck to hm.
They may get equal treatment at the start of the year but Redbull have hired someone they know is not going to be competitive (over a season) with Vettel, so 4-5 races into the year Vettel will have 'earned' his no 1 status by virtue of being miles ahead in the championship. Ricciardo will then get the same shabby treatment Webber has received at times.
designndrive62 said:
Must make Ricardo feel good that they spent so long trying to sign any possible driver other than him for the last month. I think Ricciardo was far from red bulls first choice and they have had to 'settle' somewhat.
Really? Other way around I think- they had clear offers from Alonso, Kimi and many other drivers.
And yet, they stick to their path of promoting its jnr drivers.
Yes they had to consider the other guys, but lets be honest - who wouldn't consider Kimi et al.
Good luck Ric - although getting beat in quali by Ver does not bode well against Vet!
HF
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