Daniel Ricciardo says he will not hold back as he aims to seize an opportunity for Red Bull to score a good result at the U.S. Grand Prix.
The wet conditions for Sunday morning's qualifying session saw the two Red Bulls line up as best of the rest behind the Mercedes, with Ricciardo starting the race from third. The wet conditions put a premium on downforce while masking Red Bull's lack of power from its Renault engine and Ricciardo is hoping to take advantage of the situation.
"I think for us it helps us as a team because I think the chassis works well, we've got a good level of downforce," he said. "Obviously the more rain, the less grip there is, so I think more downforce helps. So probably the good cars might stand out a bit more in wet conditions.
"In these conditions it's always a fine line but I think you're better off taking risks because if you don't drive these conditions with confidence I don't think you get very far. As soon as there is a little bit of aquaplaning or a little bit of rain starts to scare you or make you a bit more cautious then everyone's going to jump in front.
"So you need to drive the conditions with some confidence and a little bit of aggression. Sure it can bite you but I think it's a risk you need to take and it can really make or break you in these conditions. Obviously for us as a team and me as a driver, I'm not fighting for a championship at the moment and these are conditions that do suit us. Where our car has been it's an opportunity for us in the rain, so I think to put it all on the line makes sense."
Ricciardo is hoping the circuit remains wet in Sunday afternoon's race, but without the need to run too many laps in safety car conditions.
"Mixed conditions would be good. I think a full dry race we are likely to be less competitive. Obviously I don't want it to be too much rain that we don't run and we're sort of behind the safety car for ten laps and then done. I think a genuine wet race would be cool and I think it would make it a little bit more exciting as well with a few more variables that get thrown in. So I wouldn't mind if it eased off a bit but we stay on wets, that's going to be fun."