Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner says Daniel Ricciardo’s recovery drive during the Australian Grand Prix demonstrates the potential of its RB14.
Red Bull readjusted its schedule for 2018 in a bid to avoid the slow starts it suffered across the past two years, which left it playing catch-up across the remainder of the season.
While Max Verstappen had a messy race, spinning through Turn 1 as a consequence of the damage he sustained while chasing Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, Ricciardo made progress at his home race.
Albeit aided by Haas’ double retirement and his own team-mate’s error, Ricciardo rose from eighth to fourth, shadowing Ferrari rival Kimi Raikkonen through the second half of the race.
Ricciardo finished just seven seconds behind victor Sebastian Vettel, setting the fastest lap in the process, providing Horner with optimism over Red Bull’s prospects.
“It was a strong recovery from Daniel from eighth on the grid to fourth at a track that is incredibly difficult to pass on,” said Horner.
“I think the only pass of the entire grand prix was the one he made on Nico Hulkenberg.
“What we could see in the closing stages of the race was that he was pushing Kimi very hard and he had very good pace, demonstrated by posting the fastest lap, which is encouraging for the season ahead.”
Max Verstappen backed up Ricciardo in sixth – the first time Red Bull has got both cars to the chequered flag in Australia since 2013.
Red Bull holds third place in the Constructors’ Championship, two points behind reigning World Champions Mercedes.
