- Red Bull
Ricciardo: No added pressure alongside Kvyat
Daniel Ricciardo says he is relishing the added responsibility and pressure of being Red Bull's elder statesman alongside Daniil Kvyat next season.
Ricciardo, 25, was the revelation of 2014, outscoring four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel and claiming three victories in his first season at the team. His impressive debut season at Red Bull coincided with Vettel's decision to leave for Ferrari, with Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat stepping up next year.
After such a comfortable season alongside Vettel, Ricciardo is not daunted by the prospect of exciting rookie Kvyat on the other side of the garage.
"Pressure is what you make of it," Ricciardo said. "I think I've been in high pressure situations and I can't really imagine more now. I think obviously with Danny [Kvyat] it's a new challenge and yes I'm a bit in Seb's position, so people will expect me to be the quicker guy than Danny but obviously that's up to me to make sure I am.
"I definitely feel a bit more responsibility now I'm the older guy in the team. But the relationships I've made this year, I feel it's easier for me to share my input and speak to the big guys. It's natural that evolution happens so I'll be busy over the winter - for not only the team's sake but for my sake I want the car to be as fast as possible so I'll do what I can to help them out."
Ricciardo thinks 2014, which he rates as the best year of his career, gives him a solid foundation going into the new campaign.
"It's been an awesome season. Personally, since I've been racing go-karts, the results speak for every year. But with my own personal rating it was easily the best year of my career. I judge that by leaving a race, looking back at it and saying 'could I have done that better, or that?' and there really wasn't a time where I feel like I left a position on the line. I don't fear for the future but I'd definitely take this year again, if I could have more like this it would be fine!"
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