Red Bull are counting on Daniel Ricciardo to surprise them and team-mate Sebastian Vettel next season when the Australian joins the team.
Ricciardo, who was considered a safe but natural choice for Red Bull, will go up against four-time champion Vettel who’s built a team around him.
Team principal Christian Horner knows it’s a daunting prospect, but doesn’t expect the 24-year-old to suffer because of it.
“I genuinely think he will be a bit of a surprise next year,” said Horner on Tuesday. “He knows it is big shoes. To go up against Sebastian Vettel is a pretty daunting prospect for any driver.
“Daniel is a young guy that has got a lot of raw talent, he has got a great amount of natural speed,” he continued. “He knows the team pretty well having been a member of the junior team and through his time at Toro Rosso and through his time as a test and reserve driver for us.
“I think that he has got exactly the right character and approach to get the most out of the experience, to learn from Sebastian and to embrace being his team-mate and try to learn from it.”
With just two races left, the transition from Toro Rosso to Red Bull is beginning but Horner is keen to ensure he remains focused on the job at hand.
“We have some dialogue, more so now with Daniel as he starts to make the transition,” he said, adding: “But he needs to finish and focus on the job he has got to do for Toro Rosso before involving him fully in the programme for next year.”
