Daniel Ricciardo believes that, due to the changing weather conditions at the Circuit of the Americas, the United States Grand Prix this coming Sunday will likely be a "lottery" as teams attempt to adapt from the wet surface in qualifying to a dry one for the GP proper.
The free practice session on Friday saw teams brave the downpour, but only for a few laps as tyre strain was kept to a minimum.
For qualifying on Saturday the rain is expected to continue, but for the GP things are expected to dry up on the circuit, and it is the changing climate which Ricciardo believes could make anything possible.
"I think we’re looking alright,” said the Red Bull driver of the team's outings so far.
"It seemed decent this morning, the first few laps we did. Then in the dry, who knows. I think it will be a lottery on Sunday for the race. I don’t know if Ferrari had struggles or whatever, but we will try and target the podium."
Ricciardo went on to reveal that he was expected to go out for an afternoon run around the circuit on Friday, but couldn't as he suffered a puncture.
“The tyres we used this morning, we would have used for the afternoon, but I picked up a puncture," he admitted.
"Anything we used now would have taken away from qualifying it’s wet. Qualifying is more important which is why we want to have all the tyres available.”