Infiniti Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo will drive for the team in 2014, as part of a multi-year agreement between the two.

"It's fantastic to confirm Daniel as the team's race driver for 2014," said Christian Horner. "He's a very talented youngster, he's committed, he's got a great attitude and in the end it was a very logical choice for us to choose Daniel. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2008 and we've seen in his junior career in Formula 3 and Renault World Series that he's capable of winning races and championships. He's stood out in each of these categories and we've followed his progress with great interest. He's got all the attributes that are required to drive for our team: he's got a great natural ability, he's a good personality and a great guy to work with. Daniel knows what the team expects from him; he'll learn quickly and it's very much a medium to long term view that we're taking in developing him. The seat within the team is a wonderful opportunity and I think he's going to be a big star of the future."

"I feel very, very good at the moment," added Ricciardo, "and obviously there's a lot of excitement running through me. Since joining F1 in 2011, I hoped this would happen and over time the belief in me has grown; I had some good results and Red Bull has decided that this is it, so it's a good time. Next year I'll be with a Championship-winning team, arguably the best team, and will be expected to deliver. I'm ready for that. I'm not here to run around in tenth place, I want to get the best results for myself and the team. I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do. I know the team quite well already since being its reserve driver in 2010, which should make the transition easier. It will be a great challenge to be up against Sebastian Vettel, I'm looking forward to that. My aim is to finish this season as strong as possible, for myself and Scuderia Toro Rosso. Then, once the off-season is here, I'll be fully focussed on next year and the next stage of my career."

"Since Mark announced his retirement, Christian and I have been looking carefully at the driver market, along with Helmut Marko and Dietrich Mateschitz," revealed Adrian Newey. "We could have taken an experienced driver, somebody guaranteed to deliver to a relatively known level, or equally we could take on a much younger driver in the hope that they'll develop to a very high level. We looked at the latter option and concluded that of the younger drivers, Daniel is the most promising. From Red Bull's point of view that also fits well because the driver that Christian and I feel is the most promising is part of the Red Bull young driver programme. The decision actually reminded me a little bit of a similar situation we had when I was at Williams. Nigel Mansell was leaving and we needed someone alongside Alain Prost. We could stick with Riccardo Patrese or take a punt on a young driver called Damon Hill who was our test driver at the time. I think it's good to bring young blood in and give promising drivers a chance."

Christian Horner and Adrian Newey share their thoughts...

As does the man himself

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Carugatese, 05/09/2013 13:15

"Congratulations, good luck; a giant leap for his career and a little hope for the young guns to follow his steps to a top team."

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2. Posted by Jackal, 04/09/2013 16:32

"Excellent opportunity for Ricciardo, but the pressure on him will be immense. Not only will his team-mate (and benchmark) be one of the best drivers in F1, but he'll also have JEV waiting in the wings, ready, willing and able to replace him should he fail to produce.

It'll be interesting to see how he makes out. I for one feel that he will be given a fair opportunity to make the most of his place in the team."

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3. Posted by Podge, 03/09/2013 11:49

"I don't think it will need stating that he's number 2, will it. Well done Ricci though, he deserves it for being ahead of his team mate in the Championship. oh, wait..."

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4. Posted by TEX_ONE, 03/09/2013 1:51

"Congratulations to Ricciardo. But it would have made it a fun season next year if Kimi had got the seat at Red Bull, as neither he or Vettel could stand being number two driver and back up for the other. "

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5. Posted by GoodPublicity, 03/09/2013 0:14

"Great news, not only for Aussie F1 fans but Red Bull's other young drivers with their eyes on the prize!

Oh, and what is the Australian Grand Prix office, which stands to reap millions of extra dollars in spectator admission tickets as a direct result of Daniel's promotion, doing to help the next generation of talented young Aussies to follow in his and Mark Webber's wheel tracks?

Precisely the same as it did for them - nothing."

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6. Posted by Don_lyall, 02/09/2013 22:58

"Good stuff.

I don't want to be pedantic about Horner's statement, but that DR is quick is only one of a number of points, basically that 1) he's amenable, 2) RBR expect certain things of him, and 3) they're looking to him for the longer-term, rather than anything in 2014.

To this cynic, it rings a bit of 'Vettel's wingman' at least for a while, and that he's aware of this. "

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7. Posted by Kkiirmki, 02/09/2013 20:37

"Looks like the comment about Kimi still being in the hunt were a red herring. Congratulations to him and I hope he does well. To find yourself in arguably the best team of the decade (so far) will be a big boost to his chances of doing well in F1, I don't think Vettel will have much to worry about though. "

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8. Posted by The Rumble Strip, 02/09/2013 19:46

"Congratulations and good luck to him."

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Official: Ricciardo to partner Vettel in 2014

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