US Grand Prix 2016: Daniel Ricciardo is ready to end Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s domination
Red Bull ace has warned Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg he gunning to break their title stranglehold
DANIEL RICCIARDO has warned Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg he is ready to break their stranglehold on the F1 title.
The ever-smiling Aussie certainly has reason to be happy as he has the second-highest points haul since the summer break, giving him hope for 2017.
His victory in Malaysia has helped move him third in the drivers' championship and he is now ready to topple the top two next season, along with his Red Bull team-mate, Max Verstappen.
He said: "There is no doubt that Mercedes are a strong team and there is a bit of gap we at Red Bull have to find, but I do believe we will close it next season.
"I honestly believe Red Bull now have the strongest driver line-up.
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"From the outside, Max and myself don't have a championship but we have both proved our speed and our race-craft.
"We are not shy and will have a crack and have dealt with the pressure. We have shown we have the tools and because we are still young, I think we are the strongest pairing.
"Lewis and Nico is a strong pairing and they have a lot more experience but their growth is probably a lot smaller than mine and Max's."
Ricciardo is arguably the nicest driver in the F1 paddock. His smiley exterior is paired with his brilliant driving, while dedicating his victory in Sepang to tragic racer Jules Bianchi showed a real element of class.
Yet despite his fondness for cracking jokes and taking life less seriously than his opponents, he is remarkable level-headed.
The 27-year-old is also astute enough to realise that ditching the jet-set lifestyle enjoyed by Hamilton will allow him to prolong his racing career.
He added: "I try to make a point of enjoying myself in the summer and have my fun but then as soon as I go racing again, I need to come out and kill it.
"Everyone is different. What works for one might not work for everyone.
"I love going to new places and experiencing new things. It puts my mind at ease because Formula One can be pretty chaotic.
"It is good to switch off by doing these things but it is already gruelling as it is, so adding extra stuff on top of that will only leave you feeling run down, and with constant time zone changes, it will take its toll.
"At my ages, I still have another eight to 10 years in the sport, so I have to make sure I still keep my body going well.
"I suppose Lewis's position means he is not looking too much further, then he can be that bit more flexible."
Meanwhile, championship leader Rosberg says he is not prepared to coast home to his maiden world title.
The German's 33 point advantage means he can finish second to Hamilton in the final four races this season and still win the title.
Yet he dismissed suggestions of a cautious approach and says he is going all out in Austin to win the US GP this weekend.
He said: "I'm going for the win here this weekend, that's it, and I'm not trying to bring home any second places or anything as such."
