Daniel Ricciardo firmly believes Red Bull can fight at the front of the field with Ferrari and Mercedes in 2018.
After a slow start in 2017, with Red Bull suffering from early correlation issues, the squad rapidly closed up on its rivals through the latter half of 2017 season, and Ricciardo feels they can carry on that vein of form into 2018.
"With not many rule changes, we improved the car a lot last year so on principle, we should be able to carry that over into this year and keep evolving," said Ricciardo.
"We should be able to fight more often, time will tell but I'm confident.
"There is a good intensity in the team, but everyone is not getting too excited, we know there is work to do if we want to achieve what we want, so we all know we've got some desires to attack this year."
Despite having set targets for himself in 2018, the five-time Grand Prix winner is not allowing himself to get carried away with anything going into the new season, believing preparation is the most important thing possible.
"I've got goals I want to achieve," he added. But I don't necessarily say by race three I want to have been on the podium twice and have a pole position, I don't set goals like that."
"I guess the thing for me is I want to be true to myself and prepare myself as best I can before every race and then I know I'll get the best out of it."
Ricciardo is entering the final season of his current deal with Red Bull.
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