- Red Bull
My win will lift Vettel - Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo is expecting to see a rejuvenated Sebastian Vettel in Austria after claiming his maiden win and Red Bull and Renault's first victory of the V6 era last time out.
At the start of the season the idea of Ricciardo outperforming Vettel, let alone winning a race before him, seemed unlikely, but the Australian has enjoyed a superb season alongside the reigning world champion. Ricciardo thinks Vettel responded to his victory admirably in Canada and thinks it can only be a good thing for Red Bull to have two drivers at the very top of their respective games.
"I think it's still ok!" Ricciardo joked when asked about the relationship between the pair after Canada. "He showed a lot of respect and good sportsmanship after the race, he obviously would have loved to have been on the top step but he said he was happy that I got it, which is good. It's going to make him more motivated so I can't rest now and get too complacent, I have to keep pushing and hopefully it works well for both of us and gets us further up the grid."
Despite dominating the sport for so long Ricciardo believes it was vital for Red Bull to rediscover that winning feeling after a frustrating start to the new era.
"The win gave us motivation, not that we didn't have it, but it's given us that extra little bit so it's encouraged everyone to want more of it. I saw the team on the pit wall when I crossed the line and it was like their first win in Formula One which was refreshing.
"The motivation is there but I think it's still going to take time, it's not going to happen overnight. The gap [top Mercedes] is big as we all know but hopefully we can stand on the top step again this year and try and close them down, we're chipping away at it."
Ricciardo does not think Red Bull will have any extra advantage at the circuit which bares its name in Austria this weekend.
"I've done some simulator last week [of the circuit] but so have a lot of [drivers] probably. Last year I did a filming day here with Toro Rosso so I've been around the track a few times. We won't take too long to adapt and get used to it, qualifying is going to be really tight. By the time that comes we are all going to have our eye in.
"I think mistakes are going to be costly here so it's all about putting it together. It's going to be fun, I don't think I've got an advantage but by Saturday we should be up to speed."
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