Red Bull Racing say they are determined to provide Daniel Ricciardo with a championship-contending car

RED Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has lauded Daniel Ricciardo as last year’s best driver and says the team is determined to capitalise on his strengths.

RED Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has lauded Daniel Ricciardo as last year’s best driver and says the team is determined to capitalise on his strengths to provide him with a championship-contending car.

As one half of what the team principal describes as the best driver pairing in Formula One, Horner said Ricciardo was hitting peak form in his career as he entered his fourth season with the Red Bull Racing team.

The Australian finished third in the drivers’ championship last year behind the dominant Mercedes pair of now-retired champion Nico Rosberg and three-time title winner Lewis Hamilton.

But Horner was confident Ricciardo could take another step forward in 2017.

“Absolutely, for me I think that Daniel was driver of the year last year, he is hitting peak form in his career,’’ Horner said.

“We are keen to capitalise on that and hopefully give him a car capable of challenging for race wins.

Red Bull star Daniel Ricciardo is preparing for a big year.

“His performance over a single lap on a Saturday is fantastic, his ability to dig a lap out of the car is, I think, the best out there on a Saturday afternoon. His race craft is phenomenal, his overtaking skills are absolutely first class and some of the overtakes that we have seen him make over the last couple of years have been fantastic.

“I think there is still more to come (from him), but I think his performances last year were fantastic and I’m confident that there’s more of that to come.’’

Asked if Ricciardo would be able to challenge for the championship, Horner said the car’s development over the course of the season would ultimately determine that.

“I think it all depends on how the car develops and performs throughout the year,’’ Horner said.

“Of course Mercedes are the favourite, (Lewis) Hamilton is now the clear favourite, Mercedes and Ferrari are very strong, but hopefully we can provide him with a competitive car.’’

Ricciardo and Dutch teammate Max Verstappen will have their first full season together for Red Bull in 2017 following the 19-year-old’s arrival after four races in 2016 when Daniil Kvyat was sent back to Toro Rosso.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo at winter testing in Spain.

Horner believed the duo were the strongest combination of any team on the grid.

“I think we have got the best driver pairing in Formula One, I think we have got two of the very best that can go shoulder-to-shoulder with Lewis,’’ Horner said.

“It’s great for both of them because Max there is a huge amount of attention and interest in him being so young and such an exciting driver.

“Daniel could have withered under that pressure, but he didn’t, he rose to it and I think there is a great respect and relationship between the two drivers where they are pushing each other hard but also working collectively off track to best serve the team.’’

During final pre-season testing, Horner predicted Red Bull was “within .3 and .4 of a second” off its chief rivals, but he was confident there was more pace to extract from its Renault power unit.

“From there you can hopefully develop and get closer and closer,’’ Horner said.

“I think it (the Renault engine) has made progress, how much compared to its rivals, it’s still early days. But for sure they have had a positive winter, lots going on so it’s definitely a step forward.’’