Vergne: Daniel at the moment is doing better than me

Jean-Eric Vergne has admitted that his teammate Daniel Ricciardo is currently doing a better job at Toro Rosso, and hopes that the Australian becomes the next driver at Red Bull Racing and not Kimi Raikkonen.

Although Red Bull, and the French driver himself, are not ruling out Vergne's chances to succeed departing Mark Webber, boss Christian Horner has effectively admitted that on current form Ricciardo is fighting for the 2014 vacancy against Raikkonen.

Vergne, 23, is quoted by Austria's Kronen Zeitung: "I think it's my teammate Daniel Ricciardo who should get the job, not Kimi Raikkonen.

"If Daniel, who at the moment is doing better than me, is running alongside Sebastian Vettel, it will show the quality of the young [development] drivers of Red Bull.

Jean-Eric Vergne leads Daniel Ricciardo during the Spanish GP

"If it is said that I am not consistent, then I have to point out that after my sixth in Canada, I had two retirements due to mechanical problems," Vergne added.

"We are both doing a good job at Toro Rosso, and the team is getting better with every race."

Vergne acknowledged that Australian Ricciardo has earned contention for the departing Mark Webber's seat alongside Sebastian Vettel. But he also thinks that if Ricciardo does well at Red Bull, that will also reflect well on himself.

Meanwhile an article in the latest edition of Italian magazine Italiaracing claims that Raikkonen will ultimately line up at Red Bull next year, with Ricciardo replacing him at Lotus. (GP247)

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