Sebastian Vettel has vowed to cope with the responsibility of carrying the load of Red Bull's pre-season testing duties.

The highly rated 21-year-old, approaching only his second full season as a race driver, said he has not spoken to his 2009 teammate Mark Webber since the Australian badly broke his leg last weekend.

"We will proceed as usual with testing and for sure he will be missed but it is more important that he is back next year to get the new car running," the German told F1's official website.

Until the experienced Webber, 32, is back in action, the focus of the team's preparations for next year will now fall on Vettel's shoulders.

Not only is it a big responsibility for a young driver, Vettel is also settling into a new environment, having switched from the sister team Toro Rosso.

He said: "We have to be even more focused down in Jerez at our next test and can't afford to make any mistakes, as time is valuable."

Chief test engineer Ian Morgan believes Vettel's adjustment will be smooth.

"He settled in very quickly and it actually felt as though he'd been with us for a long time already, which is a good sign," he said after last week's Barcelona test.

Source: GMM