Mark Webber believes fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo will be a big player in the title challenge next season as Mercedes have been weakened by the loss of Nico Rosberg, whilst regulation changes could throw the current pecking order out of the window.
Webber, who has now retired from a long and successful motorsport career, says Ricciardo is one of the best on the grid and fully expects – as long as Red Bull build him a decent car – to challenge for the title, more so now that Mercedes have been hit by the loss of one of their champion drivers.
"Daniel was probably the most consistent driver in the field [in 2016] and he's absolutely world class, in that top three drivers," Webber told Australian newspaper The Age.
"He's in a position to go again and certainly vie for the championship if Red Bull can get the car together because Nico is virtually impossible to replace in the short term at Mercedes."
He added: "Nico and Lewis drove each other to be better, but now [Mercedes] won't have that all-star line-up. Lewis is brilliant and absolutely ruthless, but this will shake up the Formula 1 market."
Ricciardo meanwhile says he's "hungry" for success next season and is confident the team can deliver.
"I have faith that – again, all the ingredients need to be there the equipment and what not – but if we are even a sniff of it then I think we can definitely make it happen next year … you need everything to sort of fall into place, but I personally feel ready, definitely hungry enough that's for sure."
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