Ricciardo to Red Bull

[Jakko]

Fox Sports reporting that Dan has been given the nod!

Great news if true.

 

[Simple Jack]

Last I heard Sportbild were reporting it and Marko gave the classic 'non-denial' response but no confirmation.

 

[alfy!]

No more new information, Fox Sports are just reporting the original source-less report from Sport Bild.

It may well be true, but they've been very wrong about things before.

 

[mattys123]

Sky Sports running with it too now;

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1...o-as-mark-webbers-replacement-for-2014-season

Red Bull will announce Daniel Ricciardo as Mark Webber's replacement for the 2014 season at this weekend's Belgian GP, according to reports in Germany.
Bild newspaper, which broke the news of Toto Wolff's departure from Williams to Mercedes earlier this year, claims that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has made the decision to promote Ricciardo from junior team Toro Rosso to partner World Champion Sebastian Vettel next season.

Great news.

 

[chachi11]

Lets hope he's allowed to race.
He has talent.

I hope that means Kimi joins Ferrari.

 

[alfy!]

Wider reports all over the internet (this time from reliable sources) that this move is in fact a done deal. So happy

 

[OzBomber]

Apparently this Bild website has been pretty spot on in the past, so it's great news. Will wait for the official word, but it's hard not to get excited! Can't wait to see how he goes in a top car. The kid has pace, and he has talent.

 

[Smeg Head]

Lets hope he doens't get ahead of himself for this year and still aims to put in some good Toro Rosso performances before the switch. Next year just got more interesting.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

My only concern would be, if he is getting the drive, is that is he mentally tough enough to cope with being a no2, or Vettel getting the favourable treatment even if his form is better?

 

[Jakko]

My only concern would be, if he is getting the drive, is that is he mentally tough enough to cope with being a no2, or Vettel getting the favourable treatment even if his form is better?

He just needs to relax into it. If he is faster, then situations can change. Its a massive ask though. If he can put in Webber type performances verses Seb straight up, then hes doing his job. Obviously it would be nice if he stepped straight in, outqualified seb over and over and beat him straight up.

 

[larrikin]

Wider reports all over the internet (this time from reliable sources) that this move is in fact a done deal. So happy

Yeah, especially the quotes from Raikkonen's manager saying he is out of the race for that seat. Sounds like a done deal.

 

[alfy!]

Yeah, especially the quotes from Raikkonen's manager saying he is out of the race for that seat. Sounds like a done deal.

Although the last 24 hours has brought this:

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/8879635/red-bull-to-make-final-try-for-kimi?

One last crack at Kimi?

http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/...keine-fahrer-bekanntgabe-in-spa-13082006.html

"We express ourselves when the time comes, and that will definitely not be in Spa," says Helmut Marko, motorsport advisor to the huge shower.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Kimi is not out of it just yet

 

[larrikin]

Kimi is not out of it just yet

Yeah, interesting developments....

 

[Smeg Head]

There is mention that Ricciardo is possibly too wide across the hips to fit the 2014 chassis that Red Bull have designed, anyone seen anything further on that?

 

[larrikin]

There is mention that Ricciardo is possibly too wide across the hips to fit the 2014 chassis that Red Bull have designed, anyone seen anything further on that?

Surely that's not a difficult fix

 

[Smeg Head]

Surely that's not a difficult fix

You would assume so, but who knows.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

So no news on Ricciardo next year then? Personally, for better of his long term career, I think he'd be better off moving to another midfield team. Move to a team like Force India or similar for 2-3 years, going all out to get better results than what he's had so far and particularly become a semi-regular podium finisher. I look at his career, I'm not sure he's had the all round experience to become a serious front running GP team leader.

When I compare him to Webber, I think it was a huge weakness of Mark's that he didn't get enough good results in the midfield teams before Red Bull came good in 09. Mark spent 6 years in midfield cars and only got 2 podiums, when I reckon you should be averaging almost 2 a season (8-12 Mark should've got during 03-08). For all the supposed toughness Mark has, he's soft and got found out when he had a good car.

I'd like to make sure Danny has the hard edge needed to be a serious GP runner, and if that means having to wait a bit longer and going for the title driving a Sprite Recharge-Renault in 2020, instead of picking up the odd win from 2014, then so be it. It's ok to go on about 2-3/10ths here and there in qualifying, but it means jack ****. Getting hard results in spite of any issues that happen over a race/season is what counts, Danny best place so far is 7th. Not good enough. It should be 3rd or 4th, at least once so far. You might not like my opinion, but I'm just saying...

 

[imadodgyumpire]

There is mention that Ricciardo is possibly too wide across the hips to fit the 2014 chassis that Red Bull have designed, anyone seen anything further on that?

Nigel Mansell board?

 

[alfy!]

Eddie Jordan before qualifying last night:

Daniel Ricciardo, for the avoidance of any doubt, has signed an agreement and he will be in this team, Red Bull, next year.

They may deny it, but believe me this is what's going to happen.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Eddie Jordan before qualifying last night:

Eddie has been known to make false statements.

If true though, you'd wonder why they couldn't get Kimi over the line.

 

[alfy!]

Eddie has been known to make false statements.

If true though, you'd wonder why they couldn't get Kimi over the line.

Oh of course, no analyst has a 100% correct record over the years. But Eddie has been known to break big stories and be quite accurate.

He's certainly putting his word on this and absolutely grilled Horner before qualifying which was very entertaining.

Hoping what he is saying is true though!

 

[alfy!]

Andrew BensonVerified account ‏@andrewbensonf1
Webber to Channel 10 re Red Bull "The decision's made. We all know who it is. I'm happy with that decision. It's good for him and Australia"

Webber trolling

 

[rayven]

http://www.carthrottle.com/mark-webber-confirms-ricciardo-for-2014-red-bull-seat/

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Not sure if Mark really knows