Ricciardo excited for 2019 after Red Bull's Renault upgrade

Daniel Ricciardo says the 'c-spec' power unit that Red Bull have used in recent weeks is a noticeable enough upgrade to raise his confidence ahead of joining the French team in 2019. Max Verstappen took a fine second place in Singapore with the tuned-up power unit, with Ricciardo sixth.

Renault's latest power unit promised a boost in straight-line speed – typically the weakness of the Viry engine in the hybrid era.

Ricciardo says the boost is significant and has him hopeful of picking up results towards the end of the campaign, as well as next year when he joins Renault.

"Through my time with the Renault power unit we've had some updates which have worked and some which haven't. That's been the reality," said Ricciardo.

"Obviously the ones that don't it can be a bit frustrating or demoralising if you're expecting something more than what you're getting.

"Now, this being their latest step, having positives and actual gains from that, is positive. It's encouraging for the next part of this year but also for my future. It's a nice little positive."

On the strength of the upgrade, Ricciardo added: "To be honest when you hear Christian give it some encouragement… we all know how that relationship is!

"He doesn't need to say those things if you know what I mean. But he did and that's a bit of proof in the pudding that it was a step.

"As a driver you could feel it, especially in qualifying. That was the first time I turned everything up on it. It felt like it, let's say, pulled a little harder before the braking. It was a step in the right direction, I'm convinced on that."

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