Ricciardo expects Vettel to "bounce back" from a difficult start to 2020

Daniel Ricciardo is convinced his former Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel will bounce back from a difficult start to the season.

Ahead of the delayed start to the 2020 Formula 1 season, Vettel was informed by Ferrari that this would be his final season driving for the team with Carlos Sainz quickly announced as the German's replacement.

Since then, Vettel has slumped to the second worst start to a season in his F1 career with a points total higher only than that of his rookie season with Toro Rosso.

However, Vettel's 2014 Red Bull team-mate Ricciardo is sure the four-time champion can rediscover his form.

Ricciardo said: “I think one thing with Seb is he’s very, it’s probably not the right word, but he’s very passionate about the sport. He loves it and I don’t think he’s a guy to just scrunch up a piece of paper and throw it in the bin and just be like whatever.

“He’s someone who is going to analyse everything and find a way to improve or find an answer to a question. I don’t think he’s the guy to just walk away from a problem.

“I think he cares too much. Whether it’s a pure love for the sport or whether it’s about himself, pride he has in himself, he’s just German efficiency I guess.

“I expect him to bounce back, I certainly do."

In their single season together, Ricciardo having replaced the retiring Mark Webber for 2014, RIcciardo became the first team-mate to outscore Vettel across the course of a full season.

Until 2019, this record still stood, but the emergence of Charles Leclerc changed this, as Vettel was defeated for a second time.

Reflecting on Vettel and his impact on the sport as a whole, Ricciardo added: “I think in the sport, I’ve enjoyed being not only a team-mate but for sure a competitor with him.

“I said it really from the start when the Ferrari news got announced, if he wants to keep doing it and if he believes he can keep doing it at the top level that he has shown in the last ten years, then 100 per cent, he should stay in the sport.

“He’s good for the sport and that’s up to him to answer, but I do expect him to bounce back.”

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