Ricciardo concedes test leaves 'so many questions'

RB driver Daniel Ricciardo believes there are "so many questions" remaining ahead of the new F1 season after the second day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The Australian finished 1.4 seconds adrift of pacesetter Carlos Sainz to slot into fifth on the timesheets, completing 88 laps in the afternoon session after taking over from teammate Yuki Tsunoda, and with his best lap on the C4 compound of Pirelli tyres.

RB is aiming to put a closer collaboration with parent team Red Bull to good effect when cars hit the track in anger next week and beyond, given it has taken on more components than it had previously under former Team Principal Franz Tost.

Despite the timesheets showing promise for the team after two days of running, Ricciardo is not getting ahead of himself when the competition begins.

Ricciardo outlines goal

"If you see Sainz in first, there are so many questions: Is it fuel? Is it the engine? Is it disallowed and at what time of the day? So you just never know.

"So I think regardless of where we are on the timesheets, I am just staying somewhere in the middle.

"I am aware we're not going to be a pole position car next week but I like to think we are still in that midfield hunt and for us to start the season, if we find ourselves in Q3 and points on a Sunday, that's a good start.

"I think that's the goal.

"Whether we get it or not, time will tell, but I think that's the start.

"Then as the season goes on, as we learn a bit more about the car and working together with a lot of new personnel, I think that's when we can start to push the bar a little more."