Daniel Ricciardo says he’s enjoying competitive rivalry with Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN: I AM so happy with how my season is going so far. We have come a very long way in a short amount of time, Daniel Ricciardo writes.

I AM so happy with how my season is going so far. We have come a very long way in a short amount of time and proven something positive at every race.

After what happened in Melbourne, I had to just focus on getting on with the job. It was out of my hands so I focused on the next race, learned some lessons, did a bit of jiu-jitsu (we stopped before it got out of hand) and now I’m having a blast up front and want to stay there.

Seb (Vettel) knows I am pushing him early in the season and I don’t think everyone necessarily expected it to be this way.

I am sure he has not been happy with the last couple of races as you always want to win, but he respects what I am doing. He’s said I’ve been doing a good job and has congratulated me after the past few races and said it was fair. He gives me a pat on the back when he thinks I deserve it.

Ricciardo says he’s enjoyed his start to the season.

We are very competitive guys that have a lot in common, we both respect the challenge. We want the best version of each other to be out on the track competing against each other so we’ll see who comes out on top.

At the end of the day though, the main thing for me is not to get complacent. He’s a four-time world champion and, while I have been finding it better than he has so far this season, he will respond, that’s why I am not reading too much into things.

There is no conflict between us, and I think that is nice for the team to see. Obviously, with Seb and Mark (Webber) in the past there were times when they had their differences but we get along better.

Ricciardo in action at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya.

Mark has been in touch with me a few times this season and told me I am doing a great job and to keep it up, keep cool, keep doing what I am doing.

I think he is happy that the guy that has taken his seat has done what he was doing and kept up the grid representation.

It’s too early to say who is doing the better job between me and Seb but one thing I will say is it’s been great to be allowed to race one another and to see the other teams doing the same with their drivers.

The racing this season has been awesome, it’s so refreshing to see. There have been so many battles on the track but without the clashes or the controversy; it’s been real racing and that’s what we want.

Daniel Ricciardo is looking forward to the European leg of the F1 season.

A lot of the rule changes have made things much closer and more competitive. It’s fast and the closer we are the more fun it is - no one wants to have a race where every car is five seconds apart.

We’re into the European part of the season and my goals remain the same. I want to keep building and get back on the podium, and of course I would love a win ... sooner rather than later! We are still a bit off that in terms of pace, but in Bahrain and China we were very fast so we have shown we are within touching distance.

I’m so pleased with how things are going for me. I understand there will always be people that question who is in what seat, and that’s fair. But for me personally it’s nice to show myself that I can do it.

When Red Bull signed me I knew deep down that if I got the shot I would be able to show them that they were making the right decision. So far it’s going as planned and I intend on keeping it like that.