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Ricciardo tipped for F1 stardom

ESPNF1 Staff
October 14, 2010 « Russia secures 2014 grand prix deal | »
Reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull garage © Sutton Images
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Formula Renault 3.5 runner up and Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo's has been earmarked as a future race winner in Formula One by his team boss.

The Australian lost out on winning the top level of the World Series by Renault by just three points to Russian Mikhail Aleshin, who will now test for Renault at the young drivers' test in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.

However, Ricciardo's Tech 1 team boss Simon Abadi is confident he has a big future ahead of him.

"We're all convinced that not only will he get into F1, but above all he'll win there," he said. "It couldn't be otherwise."

Ricciardo is now tipped for a GP2 drive next season and is also likely to take part in the young drivers' test for Red Bull.

"I should be taking part in the F1 rookies' tests in Abu Dhabi," he said. "We'll see in the coming weeks what Red Bull has in store for me."

Also preparing for the end-of-season tests are Ricciardo's Tech 1 team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne, who will drive the Toro Rosso, and Sauber's newly-signed 2011 rookie Sergio Perez, who ha d a seat fitting this week.

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