Young Aussie in world title-winning F1 car

F1 test time for local rising star

Young Australian racing driver Daniel Ricciardo will be at the wheel of the world championship-winning car at a big Formula One test in Abu Dhabi over the next two days.

Twenty one-year-old Ricciardo, from Perth, heads a field of 22 potential grand prix drivers from 14 countries to be tested at the Yas Marina circuit where German Sebastian Vettel won the F1 world title on Sunday night.

Ricciardo topped the last such test in Spain almost a year ago.

The winner of 24 races in Europe in the past three seasons, he is the official test driver for Red Bull Racing, which has Vettel and Australian Mark Webber contracted again next year.

That pair scored nine GP victories, 15 pole positions and finished first and third in the world championship in the RB6 car Ricciardo will drive tonight and tomorrow.

"There is pressure on me to be fastest," Ricciardo said.

"Everyone knows it’s the fastest car out there nine times out of 10."

Ricciardo will be Red Bull Racing’s sole driver at the test, while smaller sister team Toro Rosso -- the former Minardi -- will trial young Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.

Ferrari will try four drivers -- three Europeans and a Brazilian.

The test will be the last time Bridgestone tyres will be used in F1, with Italian manufacturer Pirelli the sport’s new supplier from next season.

Ricciardo’s racing program for next year is expected to be finalised soon.

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