Daniel Ricciardo believes Mercedes is still the team to beat in 2017 and says Red Bull can only hope to close the gap to the world champions and Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Red Bull had a disappointing opening race in Melbourne, where it sat all weekend off the pace of its two main rivals but well clear of the tight midfield battle forming behind. Many had expected Red Bull, and not eventual race-winners Ferrari, to adapt best to F1's new regulations which shifted emphasis back towards aerodynamics with faster, wider cars.
Ricciardo endured a miserable weekend at his home race, crashing out of qualifying, hitting gearbox trouble on the way to the grid and then retiring from the grand prix after starting several laps behind. Though he expects more from Red Bull in China he thinks the team is still not in a position to challenge Ferrari and Mercedes.
"To start and finish [in Shanghai], that's my target," Ricciardo told the South China Morning Post. "To finish qualifying and to start the race. That will already be better than Melbourne. We want to get close to Ferrari and Mercedes. If we can get closer to the podium, that already will be a better result.
"A podium [finish] would be a strong weekend for us. That's what we are targeting but we have to get closer to Ferrari and Mercedes. Progress is what we are chasing for now and hopefully that will put us closer to the podium."
Though Sebastian Vettel's win in Melbourne has led to speculation Ferrari is the team to beat this year Ricciardo still thinks Mercedes, winners of the last three drivers' and constructors' championships, are the benchmark for the other nine teams on the grid.
"In a way, it's nice that someone took the win away from Mercedes. I still think Mercedes are the quickest package and they are the team to beat but it's good that some people can take points away from them for now and hopefully gives us the chance to be in the fight."