Ricciardo confident Red Bull can hunt down Ferrari

Daniel Ricciardo is confident that Red Bull can challenge Ferrari for honours at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Australian will start the race fourth after Red Bull once again suffered a pace deficit in qualifying, but their long-run pace backs up Ricciardo's claims.

Ricciardo was fifth-quickest at Sakhir, but will join Valtteri Bottas on the second row after Lewis Hamilton had to take a gearbox penalty in the other Mercedes.

Team-mate Max Verstappen was the man to deliver the most impressive race simulation in Friday practice, but the Dutchman is set to start 15th after crashing in Q1.

Though still unable to get close to the scorching lap record set by pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel and second-placed Kimi Raikkonen, Ricciardo put both on warning for raceday.

"In a way it was closer than expected," he told Sky Sports.

Things didn't quite go to plan for @Max33Verstappen in qualifying... ???? ???? #BahrainGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/KsqmQZEbsI — Formula 1 (@F1) April 7, 2018

"I think to pole it was maybe four tenths or something, that's encouraging. But it's still frustrating to be at the tail end of that.

"The lap, there were bits and pieces, probably a tenth left on the table but I don't think there was more than that to get myself further up the grid. I think Lewis still had a couple of tenths on me.

"Yeah, frustratingly close but encouraging that there was no big gap."

Asked his chances of hunting down the red cars, Ricciardo replied: "It's not a long shot, I think its within reach, so looking forward to that. And hopefully in 24 hours' time we can do a pretty cool interview after a good race!

"Practice and qualifying are okay but Sunday is my favourite day of the week.

"Yesterday our race pace didn't look bad but our car in the second practice wasn't as good as it was in FP1.

"That's encouraging to know that our car will be even better than what we showed yesterday and hopefully puts us in the fight."