Red Bull calm as Raikkonen heads for Ferrari, Ricciardo set for promotion
Red Bull Racing is unfazed by Kimi Raikkonen’s move towards Ferrari for 2014, with Daniel Ricciardo now the clear favourite to partner Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull Racing has played down any concerns about its 2014 driver line-up after Kimi Raikkonen, long linked with the team, appeared set to rejoin Ferrari. The team’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said there was no anxiety over the situation, suggesting Red Bull remains confident in its options as it prepares to announce Sebastian Vettel’s next teammate.
Raikkonen’s future had been a central topic in the driver market, with speculation linking the 2007 world champion to Red Bull as a replacement for Mark Webber. However, reports in Germany indicated Raikkonen had decided to return to Ferrari, leaving Red Bull to focus on internal candidates. Marko, speaking to Bild, dismissed any suggestion of panic, pointing to the team’s continued faith in Vettel and the strength of its driver pool.
Daniel Ricciardo, currently at Toro Rosso, has emerged as the frontrunner for the second Red Bull seat. Although Marko insisted Ricciardo’s signing was not yet finalised, German media described the move as imminent. The team is expected to confirm its 2014 line-up at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Ricciardo’s promotion and Red Bull’s approach
If confirmed, Ricciardo’s step up would mark a clear endorsement of Red Bull’s driver development strategy. The Australian has progressed through the Red Bull Junior Team and spent two seasons at Toro Rosso, making him a logical choice for the main squad. Team boss Franz Tost, when asked about Ricciardo’s future, said he had no information about a move, underlining that the decision rested with Red Bull’s senior management.
Red Bull’s public attitude reflects confidence in its existing resources. Marko’s comments suggest the team sees no need to chase marquee signings if a suitable candidate is available from within. Vettel, already a multiple world champion by this point in 2013, remains the team’s centrepiece, and Ricciardo’s potential promotion would reinforce Red Bull’s commitment to its own talent pipeline.
Raikkonen’s move and the wider driver market
Raikkonen’s anticipated switch to Ferrari closes one of the biggest questions in the 2014 driver market. His departure from Lotus leaves a vacancy at the Enstone-based team, while Ferrari’s line-up would see him partner Fernando Alonso. For Red Bull, the decision to look inward rather than pursue another established star points to a long-term approach. For more on Red Bull’s reasoning, seeRed Bull chose Ricciardo over Raikkonen citing age and long-term prospects.
With the announcement due at Spa, attention now turns to how Ricciardo will adapt if promoted and how Red Bull’s line-up will shape the 2014 Formula One season. The team’s calm response to missing out on Raikkonen suggests it is satisfied with its chosen direction.
