Ricciardo not worried by his future team's dip in performance

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Daniel Ricciardo says he is unconcerned by the recent dip in form of the works Renault outfit which he will join at the end of the season.

The Aussie announced over the summer his departure from Red Bull Racing and his move to the French outfit, a decision that surprised the F1 paddock given the relative performance deficit that separates the two teams.

Renault has been at the forefront of F1's midfield battle this season, but its status as 'best of the rest' has come under threat in the last few races from rival Haas.

Ricciardo has played down his future team's under-performance however, and what it may imply for 2019.

"When I signed I knew there was work ahead and I know they are putting a lot of effort into putting things better and expanding all departments to try to make 2019 stronger and then 2020," he said.

"The way the last few races have been this year… obviously it would be nice to see them improve every race but I honestly don’t look too much into it yet.

Webber: Ricciardo banking on Renault long term a 'concern'

"I think 2019 is a new car and is going to be a fresh start again so I am not spending too much energy on that at the moment," he added.

"All I can do at the moment is once my year is done is try to be fully immersed in it all and try to help as much as I can to see how things go from there."

Ricciardo hasn't stepped up on to the podium since his win at Monaco last spring, often outpaced by team mate Max Verstappen or the victim of mechanical issues.

But the Honey Badger is determined to end his stint at Red Bull on a high, starting with Austin.

"I think we’ll have a decent car around here," he said.

"It’s weird, I know, that I haven’t had any actual podiums. So yeah, we’ll try to make it happen.

"Last year I was going pretty strong in the race but then we had to stop with some mechanicals. It’s definitely a fun track to race on. I enjoy Austin alone, but the circuit as well is really good for racing.

"You can overtake and it’s pretty unique, so I’m happy if it’s kind of wet for Friday and Saturday but I kind of feel if the race is dry Sunday it will still be pretty exciting."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.