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Front row in Melbourne will be for Mercedes - Ricciardo

Front row in Melbourne will be for Mercedes - Ricciardo

  • Published on 01 Mar 2015 08:44
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Earlier, Daniel Ricciardo was planning a full title tilt for 2015. Now, he is in little doubt: "The two Mercedes will on the front row in Melbourne," the Red Bull driver said confidently in Barcelona. He was speaking on Saturday, on the eve of the final day of winter testing. In the paddock, word went around that Adrian Newey will attend on Sunday.

That must mean Red Bull is set to run its final Melbourne-spec configuration of the RB11, although Ricciardo admits it will at least initially not be a Mercedes-beater. "They (Mercedes) are in another dimension," said the 25-year-old, who was the only non silver-clad driver to win grands prix in 2014.

He says the 2015 Red Bull is better than its predecessor, and the recent driveability issue with the more powerful Renault engine has been improved. "But we need to keep working on it," said Ricciardo. So for now, he predicts Mercedes to run around at the front, followed by "Ferrari, Williams or us".

Nico Rosberg's test pace on Friday utterly stunned the paddock, and teammate Lewis Hamilton kept the new Mercedes at the top of the times on Saturday. "Like most," admitted Williams' technical boss Pat Symonds, "I was surprised by the laptime on Friday."

"I think we have an idea of how good the Mercedes is," he is quoted by Speed Week. "It was impressive. Behind them are ourselves, Ferrari and Red Bull, and in terms of performance we are very close to each other I think," added Symonds.

Who finishes second best in Melbourne is one question that will be answered in just two weeks. The other is how big the gap to Mercedes is. "The problem is not knowing what Mercedes has done," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, according to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3. "I am sure they have not been sitting still over the winter." He warned: "If they have gained 50 horse power more in Melbourne, then we are all in trouble." (GMM)
F1 News Daniel Ricciardo Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Mercedes Williams Renault Ferrari
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AU Daniel Ricciardo 3
Daniel Ricciardo
  • Team McLaren
  • Points 925
  • Podiums 23
  • Grand Prix 126
  • Country Australia
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (31)
  • Place of b. Perth, Australia
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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Date
Grand Prix
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Bahrain
26 - Mar 28
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Spa-Francorchamps
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Monza
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Circuit Suzuka
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United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
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Brazil
Interlagos
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Australia
Albert Park
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Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12
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Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
20 - May 23
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
18 - Jun 20
France Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27
Austria Red Bull Ring
2 - Jul 4
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
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30 - Aug 1
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
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3 - Sep 5
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Italy Monza
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