Red Bull driver confident of getting ahead of both Williams cars
Monday 3 November 2014 18:15, UK
Daniel Ricciardo believes he can finish on the podium in Sunday’s United States GP, but feels Mercedes are beyond the reach of everyone.
The Australian was the first non-Mercedes powered car in qualifying and will start from fifth, behind the two Silver Arrows and the two Williams cars.
Ricciardo has only once been on the rostrum since winning the Belgian GP in August, but is hopeful he can emerge victorious from what he predicts will be a close fight to be best of the rest.
“I think it was a good job, very close to Felipe so maybe ahead of him would have been a great job,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“But generally the top five is good, realistically third is what we are fighting for in the race and fifth is close enough to third to achieve that. The lap itself was pretty good so I just have to look forward to tomorrow. Clean side of the grid which will hopefully help us get a good start and we will see what happens after that.
“Around this sort of area where I am starting is fine, close enough to the front and I hope there are some good fights tomorrow. Obviously Mercedes will probably do their own thing, but between us, Williams, Ferrari and McLaren I think we are going to have a bit of fun out there.”
Even if Ricciardo manages to get ahead of the Williams cars, the Circuit of the Amercias boasts a straight between turns 11 and 12 of over 1km which could prove to be the downfall of the Renault-powered Red Bull. However, Ricciardo has faith in his race pace.
“We look alright, we look comparable to the guys around us, the Williams, so it is just going to be a case of getting that track position, keeping a few elbows out,” he added.
“Obviously they have a bit more pace down the straights so if I do get in front I will probably have a bit of fun trying to keep them behind.”
