SILVERSTONE, England, June 30 (Reuters) - Mark Webber has tipped fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo to replace him at Red Bull in 2014.
The Toro Rosso driver started fifth and finished eighth in Sunday's British GP to set out his stall after Webber announced on Thursday that he would quit the team at the end of 2014 to join Porsche's Le Mans programme.
'PRESSURE CHANGES'
"We've already had a few little chats but we can have some more," Webber told BBC radio after he finished second in the race behind Nico Rosberg's Mercedes. "I think he's in the box seat... he deserves it and he's done the yards over here in Europe.
"He's been on the canvas a few times and got back up and that's part of the rules. Daniel knows it will be a different challenge in a team such as that - the pressure changes. Who knows what's going to happen... but we wish him all the best."
Ricciardo thanked him for the encouragement. "As Mark said, let's see what happens. I'm not going to get my hopes up. I've still to perform and produce what I've got to do and if it all works out then that will be exciting."
Kimi Raikkonen, 2007 World champion who drives for Lotus, is seen as front-runner for the seat with Ricciardo's French team mate Jean-Eric Vergne also in the reckoning.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
The Toro Rosso driver started fifth and finished eighth in Sunday's British GP to set out his stall after Webber announced on Thursday that he would quit the team at the end of 2014 to join Porsche's Le Mans programme.
'PRESSURE CHANGES'
"We've already had a few little chats but we can have some more," Webber told BBC radio after he finished second in the race behind Nico Rosberg's Mercedes. "I think he's in the box seat... he deserves it and he's done the yards over here in Europe.
"He's been on the canvas a few times and got back up and that's part of the rules. Daniel knows it will be a different challenge in a team such as that - the pressure changes. Who knows what's going to happen... but we wish him all the best."
Ricciardo thanked him for the encouragement. "As Mark said, let's see what happens. I'm not going to get my hopes up. I've still to perform and produce what I've got to do and if it all works out then that will be exciting."
Kimi Raikkonen, 2007 World champion who drives for Lotus, is seen as front-runner for the seat with Ricciardo's French team mate Jean-Eric Vergne also in the reckoning.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 F1 season – fresh reports every day.