- Red Bull
I proved myself alongside Vettel - Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo says he is happy he got the chance prove his credentials alongside Sebastian Vettel before the world champion left Red Bull.
The announcement Vettel would be leaving Red Bull after a 15-year association with the team shocked the Suzuka paddock, and means Daniil Kvyat will be elevated after just one season at Toro Rosso. Ricciardo made that same step at the end of last season and has been the revelation of the year, consistently out-performing Vettel and winning three races, but he is unsure how much of a bearing that had on the German's decision to leave.
"I don't know, you'll have to ask him!" Ricciardo said when asked if his remarkable season had prompted Vettel's decision to leave. "He'll have to answer it but definitely I'm happy with my season here, happy I got a chance to go alongside him and happy with my performances alongside him. He moves on now and my next challenge as a team-mate is Dani [Kvyat] - even though he's young and the less experienced driver I won't take any of that for grated, I'll expect him to be quick."
Even though the four-time world champion has struggled to match his recent domination of F1 in 2014 Ricciardo says he has learnt a lot from watching the German operate on and off the track.
"With Seb, what is very impressive, there's the driving ability everyone sees on TV obviously, but his work ethic, the way he gets what he wants with his engineers, he'll be fair on them but straight and spend as much time he feels is necessary with them to get what he wants.
"The work ethic is good to watch behind the scenes is good to watch. I think Ferrari, if that is where he goes, is a place with a bit of change and in any top team he will have a strong leadership role."
Ricciardo admits he was as surprised as the rest of the paddock to hear the news.
"It was this morning [he found out] - I wasn't aware any sooner. I was aware before the announcement but not last night, for example. I was a bit surprised but I didn't rule anything out. I wasn't convinced he would stay, wasn't convinced he would go. If he did go I thought Dani would be the one to replace him, so I got that one right at least!"
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