Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsRed Bull Racing

Ricciardo optimistic of Red Bull progress in Sochi

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Daniel Ricciardo is hopeful Red Bull's encouraging form so far this season will translate in to an improved showing at the Russian Grand Prix.

Red Bull has started 2016 strongly, with Ricciardo finishing fourth in each of the opening three races, leaving him third in the drivers' championship behind the two Mercedes drivers. Ricciardo impressively qualified in second place in China while team-mate Daniil Kvyat finished on the podium and the Australian hopes to perform better in Russia than in the past.

“I think the track hasn’t suited us in the last two years, but we’ve had some strong races so far this year on circuits we didn’t think suited us either so let’s see what happens," Ricciardo said. "In the past it’s been quite a low grip. It got a bit better last year but it’s still quite slippery and because there is not that much tyre wear we haven’t done many pit stops in the past.

“There is not much camber change which you get on a lot of tracks. Also the corners are very flat and because of that quite unique. I’m looking forward to going back."

Red Bull's best result in Russia so far is fifth place scored by Kvyat last season, while Ricciardo himself finished seventh in 2014 before retiring last year. Having been consistently quick at every track so far this season, Ricciardo is boosted by the start Red Bull has made to this year.

"As a team right now we are really strong. That is the big positive out of [the Chinese Grand Prix] weekend. Three races in a row now we are there, so I am really happy."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.