(Florent Gooden DPPI for Renault Sport F1)
Infiniti Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo has called on team boss Christian Horner to decide the best course of action to take with regards team orders for the final part of the 2014 season as the Australian is currently 60 point's ahead of team mate and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel after finishing in fifth place ahead of the German in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
Ricciardo is currently 72 points behind championship leader Mercedes AMG F1 Team's Nico Rosberg as the Formula One circus heads to the final six flyaway Grand Prix starting with the Singapore night race in two weeks time.
The Australian has been the revelation of the season after being promoted to the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team at the end of last season following Mark Webber's decision to retire from Formula One. It was expected that he would struggle going up against Vettel but that been far from the case and it has been the four time world champion who has struggled with the new RB10 this season.
Speaking to BBC F1 following the race, Ricciardo said:
'I would love to be quicker on merit and not need team orders, but the next couple of tracks are perfect for us so if we need to make any decisions if we can challenge Mercedes for the title then I am sure they will be made.'
Ricciardo is the only driver other then a Mercedes pilot to have won a Grand Prix this season. The Australian has taken three victories this season in Canada, Hungary and the Belgian Grand Prix. Ricciardo has failed to score in just two Grand Prix this season having being disqualified from the season opening Australian Grand Prix while he was forced to retire from the Malaysian Grand Prix before taking his first ever Formula One podium at the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
Speaking about this afternoon's race, Ricciardo said:
'I had confidence on the brakes and around this track that helps. It was fun, being out of position at the start we knew we had to do something.
"We figured the Mercedes would be out in the front being boring so I thought I would make it fun.'
Infiniti Red Bull Racing will be hopeful that they will be able to challenge for victory next time out at the Singapore Grand Prix and at the following race, the Japanese Grand Prix as team boss Christian Horner feels that the RB10 will suit the characteristics of those circuits.
Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel had a different chassis for the Italian Grand Prix and finished the race in 6th place and is in 6th place in the championship on 106 points just 15 points behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
Last season on his way to his fourth world championship Vettel won in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Japan, the USA and Brazil however a repeat performance this season appears unlikely as the German has yet to lead a Grand Prix so far this season however this Formula One where absolutely anything can and will happen.
Vettel is currently in 6th place in the championship on 106 points, 132 points behind championship leader Mercedes Nico Rosberg. Infiniti Red Bull Racing are currently in second place in the Constructors championship, 182 points behind Mercedes.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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