Sebastian Vettel: "I'll have another Australian trying to make my life difficult!" © Sutton Images Enlarge Related Links News:

Red Bull confirms Ricciardo for 2014



Sebastian Vettel says he is prepared for Daniel Ricciardo to be "trying to do everything to beat me" as his team-mate in 2014.

Ricciardo was confirmed as Mark Webber's replacement earlier this week and will be the first new team-mate Vettel has faced at Red Bull. While Ricciardo has only driven for HRT and Toro Rosso in Formula One, when asked what sort of challenge he is expected Vettel said it would be similar to recent seasons with Webber.

"It's difficult to say because at the moment he's not in a car which allows him to score points regularly and race in the sort of area that we race," Vettel said. "But I'm very sure he's pushing very hard; he has been the last couple of years and I'm sure he will be in particular next year trying to do everything to beat me. So in that regard nothing changes, I'll have another Australian trying to make my life difficult!"

Despite Ricciardo driving for Toro Rosso for the last two seasons, Vettel admitted he doesn't know a great deal about his new team-mate.

"Not that well to be honest. Obviously he's been a part of the Red Bull family for a long time but when we are here even though he's just next door you don't get to see each other that much. Both of us are obviously busy on our own teams working on our own cars. I know him obviously, but from what I know he's always smiling and seems like a good guy so I'm looking forward to that."

Vettel added that the Red Bull drive would be Ricciardo's opportunity to mark himself out as one of the best drivers on the grid.

"Looking back I was very lucky I got the chance to prove myself. Like I said Daniel will try everything and push as hard as he can. I think people generally have the opinion that drivers that are in a let's say average car and maybe somewhere in the midfield are generally not on the same level as the drivers at the front - which I think on average is probably the case - but how do you get to step up if you never have the chance? So in that regard I think it's a great sign for him."