Kvyat: Never happy until we're back on the top step of the podium

Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat is hoping his team can improve in 2016, despite pre-season pessimism emerging from the energy drinks camp.

Although now taking a back seat at the former quadruple world champion team, designer Adrian Newey last week warned that Red Bull could be set for another painful year in 2016.

That is because, even after the bitter falling out with Renault, Red Bull will continue to be powered by French-made engines this year albeit branded as TAG-Heuer.

"Our hope for 2016 is to just maintain that gap (of 2015) but with Ferrari and Mercedes expected to step up, towards the end of the year we might be further behind than we were last year," Newey told The Hindu newspaper.

But Russian team driver Kvyat does not agree, "We aim to make steps forward and so as long as we see progress we'll be happy, but we will always aim high."

"We'll never be really happy until we're back on the top step of the podium but for now, let's start with small signs of progress. That would satisfy me for now," Kvyat added.

Many believe that 2016 is a year of treading water for Red Bull, ahead of the team partnering up with a major manufacturer once again.

Word is that a deal has been inked, with Red Bull billionaire boss Dietrich Mateschitz directly involved in the negotiation process, with the Volkswagen Group. Either Audi, Porsche or perhaps Bentley set to supply engines to the Milton Keynes based outfit from 2017 and beyond.