Ricciardo: I hope for a bit of a bullet

After finishing second in the 2016 Formula 1 constructors championship, Red Bull have dropped to third in the pecking order which their driver Daniel Ricciardo hopes will change when the team's first major update arrives in time for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Speaking to media on the eve of the eve of the Russian Grand Prix, Ricciardo told reporters, "I'll use the word hope, not expect. I hope for a bit of a bullet, something fast. We want to be in a three-way fight with Ferrari and Mercedes, so that's what I would hope for, something that puts us in that fight."

Indeed in 2016 the team also endured a below par start to their season, but came on strong as the season progress. A similar revival is what the big smiling Australian is expecting.

Reflecting on last year, Ricciardo pointed out, "In Russia in qualifying we were over 1.5 seconds off pole, in Barcelona we were about half a second off pole and made some gains, and then Monaco we were quick."

"It's a time of the year where we should start to see these updates take place and some performance really start to come out of the car. I'm hopeful of that."

Thus far the RB13 has been a mediocre and hardly a weapon for the Red Bull drivers to take the fight to the pace setters.

Ricciardo explained, "We just need a bit of everything now. We've talked a bit about downforce, feeling a bit in the rear."

"We've had a bit of time to look at Ferrari, they've been in front of us for a few races and can study them for a lap or two before they get too far away and they look strong. Mercedes as well, they're just carrying a bit more grip in the rear."

Whether the updates for Barcelona will do the trick, he said, "I'm confident it's going to be better than what we've got now and for now all we can ask for is an improvement. A bit like last year, when we made that step and were able to just keep chipping away at it."

"I think to make that first step is important. I believe we will get that in Barcelona and then let's see where it puts us. If it puts us within half a second, I think we're in striking territory soon after that," concluded Ricciardo whose best result in Russia was seventh in 2014.