- Singapore GP - FP2
Ricciardo worried Mercedes has more in the tank
Daniel Ricciardo thinks challenging Mercedes in Singapore will be a "long shot" if Mercedes has more performance than it showed during Friday practice.
The Marina Bay circuit plays into Red Bull's strengths and the team has talked up its chances of competing with Mercedes. But the closest Red Bull got was the three tenths gap between Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton in FP2, something the Australian believes might be greater if Mercedes unlocks more performance this weekend.
"Looking at it, it looks good, but I feel they've got more in the tank," Ricciardo said. "I think if they were to get the best out of their car today they would have been half a second in front. If what it was, three tenths, is truth, then that's a reachable gap and I'm satisfied.
"It's hard, it's hard. From what I saw, Rosberg was improving and then he caught the red flag [in FP2]. I don't know, I feel like they've got more in the tank. I think we do too but not enough to get on par with them yet. Right now I would say it's a long shot but we should obviously set our sights on the second row."
One of the biggest surprises of Friday's practice sessions was the gap between the soft and super-soft tyre, with the option around 2.5s quicker than the prime. Ricciardo thinks this gives the race an interesting complexion and could be one way of mixing it with Mercedes.
"It's going to make a big difference. To be quick on the tyre is one thing, but to make it last five laps longer is another and that could save you doing another pit stop in the race. It's going to be a real tyre fight in the race and it might throw up a few curve balls.
"Qualifying will be pretty straight forward - you put it together over one lap. But in the race, how well you can manage the super-soft and if you can try and make a two-stop work, that will be a big one. Two and three is very close in this race."
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