Ricciardo admits he has been too 'senstive' to engine problems in the past

Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that he has been too sensitive to engine problems suffered during races in the past, and that he needs to learn to 'drive through' the issues in future Grand Prix races if he is to maximise the potential of his car.

The Australian had a decent season last year as he claimed nine podium positions, but only one of these came via a race win - in Azerbaijan.

Red Bull are hoping to emerge as true championship contenders alongside Mercedes and Red Bull this campaign, but Ricciardo admits he needs to alter his own approach during races to get more success.

“In the past, I feel some of my strength has been my ability to feel the car,” Ricciardo told Motorsport.com.

“I’m quite sensitive to things and therefore in the past, it’s been good for tyre management.

“Sometimes it’s to my detriment, where I would probably be better off driving through something as opposed to being ‘oh, we need to change that or change that’.

“I feel I have learned a bit as well. Sometimes just throw the book out the window and drive it.”

New aerodynamic rules were introduced before the 2017 season and Red Bull did have some problems adjusting to the alterations, but Ricciardo believes the Pirelli tyres gave the team a bigger issue than aero changes.

“These tyres behave so differently to all different types of surfaces,” the Red Bull driver continued.

“On a smooth surface they slide a lot and I think a lot of the time, I have got to acknowledge the car is not going to be perfect.

“It’s low grip, the tyre is quite slow at warming up, so it’s going to slide, it’s going to feel a bit of a handful.

“Just go out there and it’s not going to be perfect but just do what you’ve got with what you’ve got. Maybe sometimes I’ll try and set up the car and try and fix it when it’s never really going to be fixed.

“Maybe sticking with one set-up for longer in the weekend and learning how to drive that set-up the best [would be better].

“There are a few times we’ve got a little bit lost and changed too many things. It’s also natural because you want a better car – ‘it’s understeering here so let’s try and fix that’.

“It then creates another problem and you just end up in a bit of a vicious cycle.”