Horner takes stock of Räikkönen, Ricciardo, and Vergne for 2014

On the sidelines of the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, Christian Horner sought to clarify the situation regarding the composition of his driver duo for the 2014 season. While Sebastian Vettel has of course been confirmed for several weeks, the names of Kimi Räikkönen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Jean-Eric Vergne have been mentioned to accompany him.

The Finn seems to be Red Bull’s preferred choice, and Horner specifies that his high salary would not hinder his hiring. Only the driver’s willingness to join the Austrian team comes into play: “The financial aspect is not really an important factor in our decision,” he told *Autosport*. “Of course, money is always a deciding factor. But you can also balance that by knowing the financial difference between first and second place in the [constructors] championship and between second, third, or fourth. If you don’t make the right decision, it will have an impact anyway if you don’t score points.”

Regarding Daniel Ricciardo, who had the opportunity to drive a Red Bull during the latest tests at Silverstone, Horner is full of praise as well: « Obviously, the test last week was quite difficult because they weren’t allowed to change anything when the test driver got out of the car. But Daniel did very well. We had the opportunity to compare him to Sebastian who drove the car the next day, and he did very well. Daniel is a very fast driver, that’s certain. Part of the challenge of being a Red Bull driver is not just being fast. It’s also about having the ability to communicate wisely and intelligently with all the engineers, especially as we are entering a new era of regulations where development will be crucial. Any driver racing against Sebastian [Vettel] will inevitably have the pressure of being compared to him. You have to be broad-shouldered enough to handle that. There may be an additional expectation that Daniel does not yet have in his current team. But what he has shown so far is very positive. »

This further buries the ambitions of Jean-Eric Vergne, even if he still wishes to believe in his chances. However, Horner does not seem to think that the French driver is currently ready to take the wheel of a Red Bull: « Jean-Eric demonstrates strong potential. But at this stage, it is probably too soon for him. That’s why we chose Daniel for the tests at Silverstone last week. Jean-Eric deserves a place in Formula 1. And if he doesn’t manage to secure a Red Bull seat, it would be logical for him to continue with Toro Rosso. He is six months behind in terms of Formula 1 experience compared to Daniel Ricciardo [editor’s note: Ricciardo had competed in eleven Grand Prix with HRT in 2011]. He is still in learning and development. We are in an enviable position because we have two drivers who have come through the junior program, who have had exemplary junior careers, and who have both done a fantastic job when given the chance to be in a Red Bull car. They are two very competent drivers and both earned their place at Toro Rosso on merit thanks to their talent. »

However, it will take a few more weeks before a final decision is made: « We will take the summer break to reflect, and after that, we will make an announcement at Spa or Monza, but probably no later than that. »