According to Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull are intending to promote Daniel Ricciardo through the team’s F1 ranks. Marko has also claimed that Webber will probably retire after the end of next season and be replaced with one of the Red Bull junior drivers.
Marko didn’t indicate who he thought would replace Webber if he retired – the other options would be Toro Rosso drivers Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.
Asked by Australian broadcaster One if HRT newcomer Ricciardo is a candidate for one of the seats next year, Marko admitted: “If he is doing well, the intention is there, yes.”
Budapest was 22-year-old Ricciardo’s third grand prix, and he was closer to the pace of his teammate, the formerly Red Bull-backed Vitantonio Liuzzi.
“I hope there is a bit more to come because I’m close to Tonio on raw pace in qualifying but still not close enough, and definitely not a bit ahead, which of course is where I’d like to be,” he said.
Source:GMM
