Red Bull teams announce new third drivers

Ricciardo and Hartley both impressed Red Bull at the recent young drivers' test in Jerez

Tweet

Print Share

 

Also In The News

Tottenham 2-0 Fulham
By Matt Hallam.

• Arctic Monkeys lead NME awards charge
• Vinnie: I can get you voted out, Alex
• Miners push FTSE down despite banking rally

 

Wednesday, 27, Jan 2010 10:40

By Adam Leveridge

Daniel Ricciardo and Brendon Hartley have been named as the new test and reserve drivers for Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

Reigning British formula three champion Ricciardo and New Zealand racer Hartley both took part in the Jerez young drivers' test in December - Ricciardo at the wheel of the RB5 and Hartley the STR4 - and both made enough of an impression to earn a promotion to the third driver roles.

Ricciardo said he is excited about this opportunity as he feels it will provide him with a good insight into the world of formula one.

"It's very exciting. It was an email I was hoping for since the test in December, but I wasn't sure whether it would come at all. So, a big relief, but also very satisfying," said Ricciardo.

"This will be a very good introduction to F1 - even though I won't be driving the car, just to sit in on the briefings and do what the drivers do on a weekend is a good way to start learning.

"It's all exciting and I'll be busy, even though I'm not driving."

Hartley, 20, competed in last year's F3 Euroseries championship after finishing third in British F3 in 2008 and he said: "I'm happy to be a part of the Red Bull F1 set-up again and it'll be good to be at the race tracks learning as much as possible so that if I do get the opportunity to do a race I'm fully prepared."

As well as carrying out their reserve drive duties for Red Bull and Toro Rosso, Ricciardo and Hartley will team up in the World Series by Renault for the Tech 1 team.

"Me and Daniel are good friends," said Hartley.

"But we've never been team-mates before so that'll be different, but he's a nice guy and we get on really well and we'll be fighting to win. As long as it's fair then let the best man win."

Red Bull also announced it will launch its 2010 car on February 10th, the first day of the second winter test of the year in Jerez.