Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo insists Lewis Hamilton won't enjoy an "easy" ride to the title in 2017 and is confident that Red Bull will be a match for Mercedes.
Red Bull and engine partner Renault made massive strides across 2016, enabling Ricciardo to finish third in the standings, behind Mercedes duo Nico Rosberg and Hamilton, having taken victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
With Rosberg having retired, and Mercedes having signed Valtteri Bottas as his replacement, Hamilton has been widely tipped to take his fourth world title this year. Ricciardo, though, doesn't believe that the Briton will cruise to overall honours.
"2016 was really encouraging for the whole team," he told the official Formula 1 website.
"We found ourselves fighting again for wins, podiums and pole positions. It was a great step closer to where we want to return to. And from what I hear about the new car, I would definitely risk a bet in our favour.
"I think we can challenge, yes. If we make the same improvements we did last year then he [Hamilton] won't have anything easy, believe me."
Ricciardo added that he now fully understands Rosberg's decision to retire and admitted he was briefly interested in the vacant seat, but reckons Red Bull will provide him with an opportunity to take the title.
"At first it was a surprise, but once I went through it in my head and put myself in his shoes I understood it a lot better," he said.
"He has a family now, he's been involved in the sport even before he was racing himself through his dad Keke, so it's a long career in that respect. It drains you with all the travel and commitments and he reached what he wanted, so now it's time for him to chill out. I get it mate!
"It was a crazy position it put Mercedes in. I'm sure every driver called, or thought about calling Toto [Wolff] and Niki [Lauda]. It's been interesting to see it evolve and now Bottas has his big chance. We'll see how he goes.," he added.
"[It was] tempting for sure, to have a feeling of how that car works. But 2017 is a new year and I'm hoping my car will now be the championship one! For me, I am best where I am: at Red Bull Racing."
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