Marko: We have the best driver pairing in F1

Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko believes that the pairing of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are the best a team can have in Formula 1.

After a highly entertaining Chinese Grand Prix, where both Verstappen and Ricciardo slugged it out against one another as well as rivals from other teams, Marko told Auto Bild, "We have the best and most balanced driver pairing in Formula 1. Max and Daniel are both doing a fine job for us and are at their very best."

"Our drivers are our advantage at the moment. While we are not able to compete with Vettel and Hamilton at this stage, but we can leave Raikkonen and Bottas behind us, and that's our best form of damage limitation.

"We need to score as many points as possible before the European leg of the season begins in Barcelona, so that the gap is not too big."

Mercedes and Ferrari appear evenly matched in terms of their power units, but the TAG Heuer badged Renault used by Red Bull is not quite at the level to challenge the pace setters, while the RB13 has hardly been an earth shattering piece of kit.

But this could change soon according to Marko, "In Barcelona we are coming with a new car. A race later in Montreal, Renault will be delivering a new, more powerful engine."

"At this point it should be possible for us to have the tools to start winning again and make the current two-way fight into a four-way fight," predicted Marko.