Daniel Ricciardo is confident of ending the Monaco Grand Prix with Red Bull's first podium finish of the season.
This has been a disappointing campaign to date for the team which won four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013, thanks in no small part to a troublesome Renault engine.
It leaves Red Bull fourth in the Formula One World Championship standings after five rounds, with two sixth-place finishes the best Ricciardo has been able to muster this season.
There has at last been progress, though, and the 25-year-old is confident Red Bull will finish on the podium this Sunday after finishing fourth in qualifying, followed home by team-mate Daniil Kvyat.
"For sure it is the most competitive we have been all year and it is the most comfortable we've felt," Ricciardo said.
"If we can get the start we need tomorrow, I am confident that if we can jump Seb (former team-mate Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari) we would have his pace. After Mercedes, I think we are there."
Ricciardo believes Red Bull have improved markedly since the Spanish Grand Prix, where he crossed seventh and Kvyat came 10th, and he is confident that things are on the up.
"I think there are still things to understand, but it has been working better here this weekend," Ricciardo said.
"Let's say the low-speed corners, the grip we are getting does feel better but, if I compare it to last year, I still feel like there are some places where we need to improve.
"Some corners last year I felt were as competitive, but I don't feel we have made a massive step in some areas.
"Compared to Barcelona, it's a lot closer. It's definitely a lot closer and the car is a lot more driveable, I feel.
"You can feel the grip a bit more in the low speed, but we're still trying to optimise it all."
Source: PA
