Christian Horner has been justifying Red Bull's decision to recruit Daniel Ricciardo

Christian Horner has been justifying Red Bull's decision to recruit Daniel Ricciardo next season - and trying to dispel the notion that the Australian is a better qualifier than he is a racer.

Ricciardo was announced on a multi-year deal and while Horner would not elaborate on the length of his contract - "It's more than one (year) and less than ten" - he said the youngster has had, and would be given, enough time to show what he's capable of. "He's going to have to feel his way in but he has the benefit of knowing the team well - he's grown up in the Red Bull family, he's been close to the team as a reserve driver, test driver and simulator driver," Horner added. "He knows an awful lot of the engineering staff; he knows the engineering practices; he knows how we operate. He knows what's expected of a grand prix driver at Red Bull. "I think it stands him in very good stead because it eliminates that honeymoon period of getting to know each other. "Daniel is at the beginning of his career. He's only going to get stronger, he's going to grow and develop - and only time will tell how good he can be. "Our job is to give him the opportunity and platform to demonstrate that. He'll have every bit the same opportunity as Sebastian to demonstrate his ability."