Hamilton might crash this weekend - Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo has refused to give any predictions for this weekend's Russian Grand Prix, saying that former team-mate Sebastian Vettel can take heart from the possibility that Lewis Hamilton could easily "crash in qualifying" and have a terrible weekend in Sochi.

Vettel and Hamilton are locked in a battle for the drivers' championship, with the Mercedes man holding a 40-point advantage over his rival with six races to go.

Although Hamilton is poised to claim a fifth world title, Ricciardo believes the championship could very easily be turned if the Brit gets into trouble in Russia.

“Lewis this weekend might crash in qualifying and then he has a terrible weekend,” Ricciardo said when previewing the GP

“I don’t know, things happen. Comparing like Seb and Lewis, for sure Lewis has been the kind of more solid guy. You know, more consistent this year. Seb’s been able to produce some big races and performances but it has had more ups and downs.”

The Australian questioned whether the pressure of performing for Ferrari is getting to Vettel, but insisted that he cannot put himself in his former team-mate's shoes because he has never been in a championship race.

“It’s hard for me to really comment because I have won races and I’ve dealt with some pressures, but I’ve never dealt with the real pressure of fighting for a title and going head-to-head,” Ricciardo continued.

“Yes, I believe I would be able to cope with that pressure, but until I’m in that position I can’t say yeah, he’s not doing the right thing or whatever.

“He has won titles before so maybe that’s a little bit of the surprise, you think he’s been here and should be used to it.

“Ferrari is maybe a different organisation than Red Bull and there’s different weights and pressures that come with Ferrari – again, I’m not sure, I’m speculating."

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