Red Bull Racing and Daniel Ricciardo remain focused on consistency rather than outright speed as the team's RB13's potential is gradually understood and dialed in.
The Aussie had a difficult afternoon yesterday as an exhaust issue limited his track time, but his work in the morning yielded the third fastest time.
The 'Honeybadger' insists however that outright speed is not on anybody's mind yet at Red Bull.
"We haven't really got too involved in the performance runs," he said.
"We're trying to get some laps, some consistent laps, for reliability as well, to make sure nothing's getting hot or there's no problems.
"The lap times, for now it's still not too representative but we can expect Mercedes and Ferrari to be at the front - and we can be very close as well."
Putting in the miles, Ricciardo is now feeling the force, or rather the downforce, and also starting to perceive some physical constraints.
"I definitely learned more about the car and the tyres and really started to feel the downforce. For example, Turns 3 and 9 are now pretty impressive.
" I think when we start doing 60 laps in the heat you’re going to see some physical limits being pushed for us drivers.
GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Ferrari and Mercedes have both modified their car’s floor element in Las Vegas to comply…
Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on top of the timesheets for the second time in Las…
Full results from Free Practice 2 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas,…
Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari has a genuine “shot” at beating rival McLaren to Formula…
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that nine Formula 1 teams stand in opposition…
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…