Red Bull technical boss Adrian Newey said he always preferred the idea of a new young driver in the team for 2014 rather than a veteran like Kimi Raikkonen.
Daniel Ricciardo during a press conference ahead of the German Grand Prix in Nurburg on July 4, 2013. Red Bull technical boss Adrian Newey said he always preferred the idea of a new young driver in the team for 2014 rather than a veteran like Kimi Raikkonen.
After the Milton Keynes-based outfit confirmed this week that Australian Daniel Ricciardo will line-up alongside defending triple champion German Sebastian Vettel next year, Newey said that he was particularly eager to bring on a driver for the long term.
"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," said Newey.
"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 have stuck 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."