Daniil Kvyat admits Red Bull “is looking good on paper” after both he and team-mate Ricciardo split the Mercedes in FP2, but the Russian remains cautious for the rest of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

The two RB11s were on pace right out of the gate, with Ricciardo and Kvyat finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the morning. The pair then swapped positions in the afternoon en route to P2 and P3, only three and five tenths behind pace setter Lewis Hamilton.

While naturally pleased with Friday’s overall performance, Kvyat feels Red Bull cannot afford to drop the ball if it wants to carry the momentum forward.

“We’ve been looking good on paper today,” he said. “Let’s see how we are able to maintain this and even improve for tomorrow.

“There was not any big issue today but we have to tidy up a few things, like I think all the other teams and drivers, and hopefully we can benefit from this in qualifying.

“It’s just Friday so hopefully we’ll do our homework well for tomorrow. Everybody will be pushing hard so we have to do the same.

“It’s better to be P2 than P12 but like I said it’s only Friday and too early to make it any conclusions.”

Although Red Bull enjoyed “one of their better” showings in free practice this year, Kvyat was nonetheless concerned to see Ricciardo’s progress being hampered by a fresh reliability problem on his Renault power unit at the end of FP2.

“For me, the engine was OK but I saw some smoke and Daniel had an issue [with his power unit]. It’s not nice to see the other side of the garage having that kind of problems.”

REPORT: Hamilton heads Red Bull pair in FP2 hit by another red flag

Click here for a gallery of Sergio Perez's crash in FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

‘That was on me’ – Perez owns up to Shanghai tangle with Bottas

Last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix was barely a few corners old before the black-and-white Cadillacs…

8 hours ago

Leclerc defies peers, defends F1 new era: ‘It doesn’t feel artificial’

The 2026 Formula 1 season has touched down with the subtlety of a localized earthquake,…

10 hours ago

Norris: McLaren ‘not at level we need’ but confident of turnaround

Lando Norris was denied the chance to race in Shanghai, but the reigning world champion…

11 hours ago

A picture-perfect St. Patrick's Day!

Bring out your green, for it's St. Patrick's Day, which is the perfect excuse for…

13 hours ago

Wolff's Mercedes heritage flight for past and present stars

Once a Mercedes driver, always a Mercedes driver – and apparently always welcome aboard Toto…

13 hours ago

Very happy Gasly says Alpine now ‘in a completely different league’

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly walked away from last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix with a smile –…

14 hours ago