91Èȱ¬

Mark Webber believes fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo should replace him at Formula 1 champions Red Bull in 2014.

Webber, 36, announced last month that he would be leaving Red Bull at the end of the season to compete in the classic Le Mans 24 Hours race for Porsche.

Toro Rosso driver Ricciardo, 23, who made his F1 debut in 2011, finished eighth in Sunday's British Grand Prix.

"I think he's in the box seat," Webber told 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 live. "He deserves it and has done the yards here in Europe."

"He's been on the canvas a few times and got back up and that's part of the rules.

"Daniel knows it will be a different challenge in a team like that, the pressure changes. Who knows what is going to happen, but we wish him all the best."

Perth-born Ricciardo said: "As Mark said, let's see what happens. I'm not going to get my hopes up. I've still got to perform and if it all works out then that will be exciting."

Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who drives for Lotus, is seen as a frontrunner for the Red Bull seat with Ricciardo's French team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne also in the reckoning.