Nico Hulkenberg expecting 'trouble' from Daniel Ricciardo at Renault

Nico Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg expecting 'trouble' from Ricciardo

Who will come out on top at Renault this year?

Matthew Scott

Friday 19 April 2019 11:28 Updated: 18:08

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Nico Hulkenberg expects Daniel Ricciardo is still getting used to life at Renault, and predicts that the Australian will begin to cause him "trouble" once he does so. Ricciardo scored his first finish for the French squad last time out in China.

After an opening-lap incident in China was followed by the Renault drivers' bizarre double DNF within seconds of the same lap in Bahrain, Ricciardo's decision to swap Red Bull for Renault was starting to come under the microscope.

However, he qualified ahead of Hulkenberg in Shanghai and finished 'best of the rest' in seventh.

"Daniel still needs to get used to the car, to the team," Hulkenberg told Sky Sports.

"It always takes more time than you think, especially when you come from a better car to a slightly worse car because things are different. It's a different kind of mindset and battle in the midfield than up the front.

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"He's still getting used to it, finding his feet but I have no doubt he's going to give me some trouble very soon."

Ricciardo's decision to swap potential race wins at Red Bull for a project at Renault not expected to be competitive until 2021 at the earliest raised eyebrows.

However, Hulkenberg believes Renault are in a good place for now.

"I'm in a good position with Renault and hopefully we can collectively improve this car and as a team really get to the front by next year or two years' time," he said.

"Certainly I'm having a good time. I'm enjoying myself and I'm in a good position. Of course I would love to battle for victories and be up the front but it's always about where can you be, what are your alternatives.

"Just being out there racing and competing with the other guys, racing, it's good fun and it's very enjoyable at the moment."