- Spanish GP - Qualifying
Gap to Mercedes is still 'too much' - Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo says the gap to Mercedes is "too much" at the moment after qualifying one second off Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Ricciardo will start from third on the grid in Spain and is hoping for a podium, but says he has no chance of competing with the two Mercedes on the front row.
"I think for us it's just to keep closing that gap to them," he said. "On a positive, we're the best of the rest but we've still got to keep the others, keep the guys we have behind us behind us, but to close to them. A second is too much. Even with a different strategy in the race it's going to be very hard to make up a second per lap.
"We've got to just keep chipping away. Obviously they're doing a great job and, yeah, I'm sure I can still learn a bit. As I am, I think, each race. We'll put up a fight tomorrow and at least try to get on the podium. And if we can't do anything about them, then keep the rest behind us."
Asked if Renault had made progress with its power unit this year, Ricciardo said: "Looking at the speed traps this week, we seem to be closer than we were the last few races at least. Obviously the straight here is not as long as Shanghai but I think realistically we have closed the gap there, so I think they've done a good job Renault is helping us all the time. We know we've still got more ground to make up but to answer your question, I think yeah, we have made some progress."
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