Ricciardo expects Raikkonen to replace Webber at Red Bull

  • Published on 09 Jul 2013 14:31
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Sebastien Buemi, a recent Toro Rosso driver and now Red Bull reserve, has tipped the world champions to sign Kimi Raikkonen for 2014. After Mark Webber announced his impending switch to Le Mans, Red Bull narrowed down the shortlist for the Australian's successor to just three names -- Raikkonen, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

But even Ricciardo, the most consistent Toro Rosso performer of 2013, does not expect to get the nod. "I would expect a world champion team to take a world champion driver," he is quoted by German website formel1.de.

Swiss Buemi, who next year will likely go wheel-to-wheel with Webber in endurance sports cars, agrees. "The situation is not clear yet," he told 20min.ch. "If a team has the chance to get Raikkonen, then it has to do that," Buemi acknowledged. "So he's really the favourite for the job."

France's RMC radio reports that Lotus team boss Eric Boullier was due to meet with Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson this week. The Enstone based team, including owner Gerard Lopez, is fighting hard to keep the Finn. "All we have to do," Lopez told the Daily Record, "is prove it's the right team for him as a racer. He has to decide, and I think he will stay."

But if 33-year-old Raikkonen, who after Webber's departure will be the oldest driver in F1, does leave Lotus, strong rumours suggest the favourite to replace him is Nico Hulkenberg. And Romain Grosjean is expected to be in the sister car in 2014. Receiving a vote of confidence from Lopez, Lotus' team owner said of Frenchman Grosjean: "Vettel, Alonso and Raikkonen are three world champions, and Romain put himself right in the middle of them (at the Nurburgring)." (GMM)

Order the latest Red Bull Racing merchandise here!

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (37)
  • Place of b. Geneve, FR
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar