Edit: Comparing JEV to Ricciardo is a non-starter. JEV has had plenty of time to impress, and did't - simple. Looking back, you can hardly find any positive words about JEV from Red Bull. In contrast, Red Bull has been glowing about Ricciardo from very early on.
They have been looking at their drivers for years. Red Bull knew exactly who was better and why. And they've been proven right - again. Ricciardo has grabbed it with both hands and is proving their systems work.Horner 2011 wrote:"(Ricciardo) is very much on our radar, He's a really talented youngster, a very gifted driver who has earned this opportunity to make his Formula One debut.
"Certainly the work he has done for us in the young driver test and in the simulator has been very, very impressive.
"This is the first step on the ladder for him. He's still very young, but it's an opportunity that has been presented to him and it's down to him to grab it.
"Obviously there is a learning curve to go through, but as we see with these young drivers they develop very quickly. Just look at Paul di Resta, look at Sebastian (Vettel).
"It will be interesting to see how he now progresses."
"Daniel has no experience of grand prix racing, he has an awful lot to learn, and HRT and Toro Rosso are the best environment for him to do that, as Sebastian did with Toro Rosso in 2007 and 2008,He needs to develop, it would be wrong to rush him through. He now has to prove himself in Formula One after proving himself in the lower categories. As I say, he is very talented, but it's one thing doing it in testing, it's another doing it under pressure. But we'll certainly be keeping a very close eye on him."