Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel warned by Daniel Ricciardo ahead of new F1 season

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Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel warned by Daniel Ricciardo ahead of new F1 season

DANIEL RICCIARDO believes Red Bull can challenge both Mercedes and Ferrari in the new F1 season.

Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel finished well clear of the Australian last time out.

Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen also were ahead of the Red Bull driver.

But Ricciardo is more confident about the 2018 season.

Asked if Red Bull could catch world champions Mercedes as well as Ferrari, he said: “I believe so.

“With not many rule changes, we improved the car quite a lot last year so I guess, on principle, we should be able to carry that over to this year and keep evolving from there.

“We should be able to fight more often. Time will tell, but I'm confident.”

Ricciardo also opened up on the mood at Red Bull ahead of the 2018 F1 season getting underway.

He added: “I feel there's a good intensity.

“Everyone's not getting too excited, we know we've got some work to do if we're going to achieve what we want.

“We've got some desires to attack this year.”

The 2018 F1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix taking place on Sunday, March 25.

Ricciardo will hope to do better in Melbourne than he did last year when he was forced to retire from the race.

Vettel beat Hamilton to the chequered flag at the Albert Park cricuit last season.


Daily Star Sunday