Mark Webber: 'Daniel Ricciardo should replace me at Red Bull'

Mark Webber believes that compatriot Daniel Ricciardo should replace him at Red Bull once he leaves the sport at the end of the current campaign.

The Australian announced on Thursday that he will leave Formula 1 at the conclusion of the current season in order to join Porsche's new sports car programme.

Webber feels that Toro Rosso driver Ricciardo would be an able replacement for him at Red Bull.

"I think he's in the box seat," Webber told BBC Sport. "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."

Ricciardo, 23, made his F1 debut in 2011.