Breaking news
Formula 1
Vettel denies Ricciardo unwise choice for 2014
Sebastian Vettel believes it doesn't matter so much whether you've been around the last couple of years with all next year changes.
GMM
Edited: Sep 20, 2013, 1:55 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sep.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down suggestions Red Bull's rivals have put the world champions on the back foot with their driver lineups for 2014.
Ferrari plans to field the all-star lineup of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, and Mercedes' pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg is arguably the strongest of 2013.
Red Bull, on the other hand, although counting again on the likely four-time world champion Vettel next year, is replacing the experienced Mark Webber with the graduating Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo.
With experience arguably at a premium in 2014 as the rules undergo perhaps the biggest shakeup in the history of the sport, Vettel played down suggestions Red Bull will be on the back foot.
"For next year, with a lot of new things coming in, it probably doesn't matter so much whether you've been around the last couple of years," he is quoted by the British broadcaster Sky.
But on the other hand, while some predict fireworks between champions Alonso and Raikkonen next year, others are hailing Ferrari's decision to put together the best and most experienced driver lineup possible for 2014.
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing with Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Consultant
Photo by: XPB Images
"It's the right decision by (Luca di) Montezemolo, because Ferrari has been behind Red Bull on the last four world championships, which doesn't make him happy," Mercedes' Niki Lauda told CNN.
The great Austrian said the arrival of Raikkonen, to replace the obvious 'number 2' Massa, will "kick Alonso" to up his game.
"I got Hamilton last year, I convinced him to join the team and he made a hell of a difference," Lauda insisted.
Indeed, Lauda thinks Raikkonen's arrival will have an immediate impact on Alonso.
"If Alonso is annoyed that Raikkonen is coming, then he will drive even faster in Singapore, even if Kimi is not even there (at Ferrari) yet," he told Osterreich newspaper.
Meanwhile, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost dismissed suggestions that because Raikkonen is so laid back, he does not deserve his place at the very top of Formula One.
"He even seems to drink faster than the others," the Austrian laughed, according to Spain's Marca newspaper.
"What I mean is, no matter what he does on his days off, he obviously trains hard because he is in perfect physical shape. Look at his neck -- he's a bull.
"That comes from somewhere, not only the bottle," added Tost.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article No actual 2014 talks with Alonso - Whitmarsh
Next article Hamilton tops first practice in Singapore
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Daniel Ricciardo
Why Daniel Ricciardo is staying away from the F1 paddock
Formula 1
Formula 1
Why Daniel Ricciardo is staying away from the F1 paddock
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
More from
Ferrari
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
12 h
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Lewis Hamilton backs claims Charles Leclerc races him harder than F1 rivals
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
13 h
Lewis Hamilton backs claims Charles Leclerc races him harder than F1 rivals
Latest news
Carson Hocevar posts 18-minute apology video: "I'm the bad guy"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
9 h
Carson Hocevar posts 18-minute apology video: "I'm the bad guy"
Timmy Hill secures full-time NASCAR Truck ride for 2027
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
11 h
Timmy Hill secures full-time NASCAR Truck ride for 2027
Kimi Antonelli admits he questioned himself throughout his rookie campaign
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
11 h
Kimi Antonelli admits he questioned himself throughout his rookie campaign
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
12 h
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe