Daniel Ricciardo expects Red Bull to close Mercedes gap

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo has said that he expects his team to be closer to Mercedes this season.

Mercedes dominated Formula 1 last year and won 16 of the 19 races after they adapted to the new technical rules better than anyone else, which allowed Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to fight for the drivers' championship.

Ricciardo, who won the other three races, is convinced that Red Bull can catch Mercedes despite reports suggesting that their dominance will only continue this season.

He told reporters: "I've got faith we can close the gap. Looking back at Melbourne [last season], we missed all the testing and we got second- or at least we were up front.

"Obviously Mercedes continued to get stronger, which is not what we were hoping. I would like to think that now they have caressed that pinnacle and we feel we have a lot more to gain. With a strong winter, which is pretty much inevitable, we should definitely close the gap. I have faith that we can do something close to it."

Ricciardo will be partnered by young Russian Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull this season.