Red Bull's New Boy Daniel Ricciardo Confident He Can Beat Vettel

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Daniel Ricciardo - the confirmed hotly tipped successor to Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing - believes that he can beat triple Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel if he is given the opportunity in 2014.

The popular Aussie, who currently races for Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso, has shown flashes of speed during his two and a half year stint in Formula 1 so far. However, he feels that at the wheel of a Red Bull car, he can match and beat - newly bleach blonde - Vettel in equal machinery.

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He acknowledges that it won't be easy, but is eager to have a go. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph he said: "I am definitely aware that if I do get the opportunity to race alongside

, it is not going to be easy.

"But I would love to get the opportunity to prove to everyone that I have what it takes - and more than that, to know for myself that I can mix it with the big guys. If I can't, well, at least I can say I tried. But I believe I can."

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The move looks even more likely after he confirmed that he had visited Red Bull Racing's Milton Keynes factory for a seat fitting. Only there was one problem, he couldn't fit in the car.

"It's my hips," he admitted. "I've got wide hips. It's not my arse per se. I guess it's genetic. Even when I signed for Toro Rosso we had to do a few seat fits and they did some scans to make that particular part of the cockpit a bit wider, so that we're not sitting on the actual carbonfibre."

So the hips don't lie and Ricciardo looks to be well on his way to the best seat in the Formula 1 house. Bring on new 2014 inter-team rivalry.