Daniel Ricciardo believes Mercedes is still the team to beat in 2017 and says Red Bull can only hope to close the gap to the world champions and Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Red Bull had a disappointing opening race in Melbourne, where it sat all weekend off the pace of its two main rivals but well clear of the tight midfield battle forming behind. Many had expected Red Bull, and not eventual race-winners Ferrari, to adapt best to F1's 2017 regulations which shifted emphasis back towards aerodynamics with faster, wider cars.
Ricciardo endured a miserable weekend at his home race, crashing out of qualifying, hitting gearbox trouble on the way to the grid and then retiring from the race after starting several laps behind.