Vettel ready to step up to Red Bull

Vettel is the favourite to line-up alongside Mark Webber in 2009, even though Red Bull Racing insist that no decision will be made for some time about the vacant seat.

And although he is just 21, and has yet to have a full season of F1 under his belt, Vettel has no doubts that he would be capable of doing well at Red Bull Racing if he was given the opportunity.

"If I didn't believe in myself that I deserve a chance or that I have the ability to drive a car reasonably fast to be competitive enough I wouldn't be here," explained the German. "Of course, I believe in myself and I believe that I can do whatever they do, the drivers, in Ferrari or McLaren but I've got to be realistic.

"They have more experience and I have to catch up a lot. I know that I'm still very young and that there is a lot that I have to learn. If I didn't believe in myself then I would better go home and do something else. For sure, I am here, I am up for the fight no matter what and hopefully, as I say, my target is to be in a competitive car in the future."

When asked if he would want the chance to go to Red Bull Racing next year, Vettel said: "Why not? Yes."

Despite Vettel's sights being clearly set on the Red Bull Racing drive, the outfit's team principal Christian Horner says he will not rush into making a decision about who they will take.

"There is no specific timetable," Horner explained when asked when he would make a decision. "There is bound to be a lot of speculation regarding Vettel. He is a member of the Red Bull family, but nothing is certain.

"At the end of the day we want the best driver line-up available to us, and we are not in any rush to decide who will fill the second seat."