Ricciardo: You have to go back a step to take two steps forward

Daniel Ricciardo has come out on record and admitted that Red Bull's Renault engine is not the team's only problem in 2015, and hints that the Adrian Newey penned chassis may be among the issues afflicting the team.

In and after Australia, the former champion team took its long-time partner Renault to task, with Red Bull officials suggesting the only problem with the RB11 is its 'power unit'.

Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul hit back at those "lies", but efforts are now being made to calm the waters in Malaysia.

"There are some tensions," admitted lead Red Bull driver Ricciardo, "but the atmosphere in the team is still good."

The Australian said "criticism" is normal in Formula 1, but it should always be "constructive".

Ricciardo also appeared to back Renault's argument that the engine is not the only problem at Red Bull in 2015.

"No one compares with Mercedes," he insisted. "Neither on the engine side or the chassis side. They are in a different category. But I think that at least on the chassis side we are at the level of Williams and Ferrari."

After a difficult season opener in Melbourne, Ricciardo said he is expecting a better weekend in Malaysia.

"Sometimes you have to go back a step to take two steps forward," he said. "So if we can manage to get the package as it was in Barcelona, it will look much better."