Ricciardo braced for Toro Rosso tough love

LONDON, Feb 19, 2012 (AFP) - Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo insists he has no worries about living up to the high expectations of Toro Rosso, despite the team's no-nonsense reputation with its rookies.

The 22-year-old from Perth made his F1 bow with Hispania mid-way through last season, but as a Red Bull protege, he will team up with Jean-Eric Vergne at the world champions' sister team for the 2012 campaign.

"I feel pressure to deliver, yes, but it's not only pressure from Red Bull, it's pressure from myself. And not only this year, but since I joined with Red Bull four or five years ago," he told www.autosport.com.

Toro Rosso dropped Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari -- both former Red Bull young drivers -- last year after they failed to make their mark, suffering similar fates to predecessors Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed.

"Even before that I put pressure on myself to try and get spotted by Red Bull. So I guess for my whole career. Basically every driver, to get to this level, has put pressure on themselves," added Ricciardo.

"Maybe there is some added pressure from Red Bull but if you want to be world champion then you know you have got to perform, and the only reason they kick you out is if you are not performing and then you don't probably deserve to be world champion. That's just the business we're in."