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Webber tips Ricciardo over Verstappen in 2017

Former Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber has said that Daniel Ricciardo will once come out on top over his team mate Max Verstappen in 2017.

Webber said that his compatriot - who succeeded him in the team in 2014 when Webber moved to World Endurance Racing - has the upper hand when it came to composure and experience.

"It will be tight, as it was at the end of last year," Webber told Autosport magazine this week.

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"I think Daniel still has more composure. Obviously that experience will be very useful for him, particularly in the early part of the championship.

Webber said that Ricciardo's knowledge of a range of different Formula One cars would be an advantage doing into the new season, which boasts major changes to downforce and tyre regulations.

"It's going to be a good battle there but the composure side is a big plus for Daniel," said Webber. ""Max is still learning, with that unbelievable talent."

Webber was also confident that Red Bull could mount a big challenge to reigning constructors champions Mercedes this year.

"Operationally, Red Bull were the best team last year. With reliability they were the best team, Mercedes had a few technical challenges," he pointed out. "If it's nip and tuck when down to the fine points, Red Bull are very good at that."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.