Daniel Ricciardo says he is refusing to get carried away with Red Bull's apparent low fuel pace following an encouraging Friday practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
After finishing second and 0.4s behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in opening practice in Bahrain, Ricciardo reduced the gap even more in the second session, ending just 0.066s behind Friday pacesetter Vettel in third. Despite second practice taking place in more representative conditions akin to those seen in qualifying and the race, the Australian was keen to play down his promising pace.
"It's alright," Ricciardo said. "It is not quali but if it was quali I'd take that for now. Actually, I'd be pissed because we are pretty close to pole essentially. It was a good day. I am not reading too much into the low fuel stuff.
"At the moment it looks good but it does not make a whole lot of sense compared to a week ago. So we will be reserved with that. But generally a good day, we did everything we had to, a lot of laps, it is nice to drive in the heat. Last week I was cold, so I enjoy this a lot."
Red Bull has so far been unable to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari for wins in 2017, having failed to extract the maximum out of F1's new aerodynamic rule changes, which has come to a surprise as many, considering the team's renowned strengths in the aero department. China presented an upturn in form as Red Bull secured third and fourth.
When asked if he felt confused by Red Bull's gap to the front in FP2, Ricciardo replied: "Yeah, like I'm kind of not sure if my name is Daniel, David, Darren. I don't really know anything anymore. A bit like Zoolander when he looks into the puddle -- who am I? Was it a puddle? Yeah. Anyway what did you ask me? You lost me at hello."