Friday, 16th December 2011
Ricciardo's formula one career steps up a gear

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DANIEL Ricciardo's chances of succeeding fellow Australian Mark Webber in formula one's world champion team have rocketed after a big promotion.

Ricciardo, 22, will race next year for Red Bull's second F1 team, Italian-based Scuderia Toro Rosso. It will mean the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 18 will have two Australian drivers on the grid for the first time.




''It's terrific to have two Australians in the sport because, obviously, it just adds that much more interest … it's great when you turn it on and there's two Aussies in the field,'' Australian former world champion Alan Jones said yesterday. Jones said the continuity of a full-time drive at Toro Rosso would allow Ricciardo to fully develop his undoubted talent. The Perth driver will team with France's Jean-Eric Vergne in 2012, replacing Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

Daniel Ricciardo described his elevation as ''a really big deal for me''.
''This is something I have wanted since I was driving for Toro Rosso on Friday mornings at the GPs in the first part of last season,'' he said.

''In the second half of this year I learnt a lot from the people I worked with at HRT. Joining Scuderia Toro Rosso was always my real goal. Now I can't wait to get to work once testing begins in the new year.''

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said he expected Ricciardo and Vergne ''to make a significant contribution to the team's performance next year''. Ricciardo made his F1 debut this year, driving 11 Grand Prix for small Spanish team HRT.

Mark Webber will continue with Red Bull Racing next year as teammate to 24-year-old dual world champion Sebastian Vettel, but the veteran from Queanbeyan is only on a one-year contract. F1 circles have been rife with speculation that next season will be the 35-year-old Webber's last, although he has indicated he may want to go on longer.

Ricciardo is favourite to slip into Webber's seat but he will face a tough test next year when he takes on his new teammate Vergne.

Jones, the 1980 world champion, said Ricciardo had all the attributes to make the most of his chances.

''Well, I think everything counts in formula one. I mean application, character, the ability to be able to deliver the goods in terms of raw speed and, obviously, he has got all those elements and this is why he has got the drive … He didn't have too many spins in the fence, or anything like that and that is, of course, what team owners want.''

Read the article here: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsport/ricciardos-formula-one-career-steps-up-a-gear-20111215-1owow.html#ixzz1gcBXCtcW