Team haven't yet "really proved to ourselves" car can last race distance
Wednesday 12 March 2014 15:47, UK
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that simply finishing the season-opening Australian GP represents a "big target" for Red Bull with the World Champions still needing to prove to themselves that their troubled RB10 can complete an interrupted race distance.
While Red Bull's testing struggles suggest Ricciardo's maiden race weekend for the World Champions looks likely to take place in the midfield pack at best, the 24-year-old says the pressure on his shoulders to perform is unchanged - particularly with the challenge of trying to beat Sebastian Vettel in the sister car present. "I guess because the team's had so much success the last years it was like 'yeah, they'll come out and be fighting for a win in Melbourne'" Ricciardo said about his initial pre-2014 expectations after being promoted from Toro Rosso. "Not that we're coming into the race now with less pressure, I'm still expecting a lot from myself and I've still got Seb alongside me who I'd love to outqualify and love to outrace. So whoever we're fighting with wherever we're fighting, whether it's for a podium or tenth place, I'm still not going to change my approach and I'm still going to take the weekend very seriously."
