'Very smart': Former F1 world champion praises Aussie youngster Daniel Ricciardo

Fernando Alonso heaped praise on Australian youngster Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday after he held him off in a thrilling scrap to take fifth place for Ferrari in the German Grand Prix.

The two-time world champion battled wheel-to-wheel with Ricciardo as the Red Bull man defended his position and attacked him in the closing stages.

Alonso said: "Daniel is a surprise from Australia. I think he's doing unbelievable.

"I think he's seven-three in the first ten races with Sebastian [Vettel], so it's something we probably didn't suspect," he said, referring to Red Bull's qualifying performances.

"He's driving fantastically and today he was battling very smart -- always taking the slipstream off me after I pass him and braking very late, attacking very late and never missing a corner.

"He was very, very smart, very respectful with the rules and it was a great fight."