Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger believes Australia’s Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo has the goods to win the world championship.

“He hasn’t made any mistakes this season,” Berger said on Thursday, ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix on June 22 in Spielberg.

“This is a new star. If the car were to fit right, he could become world champion.”

Ricciardo heads into the F1 stop having won the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend – his first F1 victory.

The 24-year-old is ranked third in the drivers’ standings with 79 points – behind the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg (140) and Lewis Hamilton (118).

Ricciardo’s teammate, the four-time reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel, is fifth with 60 points.

“We know how fast and good Vettel is. But Ricciardo is the benchmark at the moment – and that in a very likeable manner,” Austrian Berger said.

Ricciardo finished third at the Spanish and Monaco GPs after having taken fourth place in Malaysia and Bahrain. He finished the season-opening Australian GP second but was disqualified for using too much fuel.