Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo believes this year’s Singapore Grand Prix will play host to a “tight and exciting” battle between Formula 1’s leading three teams.
Mercedes and Ferrari have battled at the front in 2017, with Red Bull an occasional podium challenger, but the nature of the Marina Bay circuit is expected to bring the Renault-powered squad into contention.
Ricciardo is therefore confident that an ever-improving Red Bull outfit will be able to make it a three-way fight this weekend.
“We’ve certainly got stronger and stronger and I think on the high downforce circuits we’ve been pretty good but getting better,” he said.
“I think, also, looking at the last race [at Monza], on the low downforce circuit we had really good pace on the Sunday which was a little surprise to us.
“With that, coming here, with a few updates as well, we should be there.
“It doesn’t seem like these sort of circuits, this year, are a strength of Mercedes either so I think it could bring Ferrari and us really into that battle.
“I hope, at least, it’s going to be a tight and exciting one.”
Ricciardo added that Red Bull’s progress throughout the year makes it feel as if the curtain-raiser in Australia six months ago was “like another season.”
“We want to win, and win more; we’ve fortunately got one this year,” he said.
“I believe we can win another and then obviously next year to start accumulating more and obviously fight for a title, that’s what we really want.
“We’re certainly going in that direction, particularly since if I look back at Melbourne, that feels like another season ago.
“We’re in a completely different position so progress has been good, I think we’ve got to keep that going to Abu Dhabi and then make another step across the winter to start strong for 2018.”
