Brazilian GP: Daniel Ricciardo feels Red Bull is closer to Mercedes

Although Ricciardo was only fourth, eight tenths of a second off pacesetter Nico Rosberg, on the Friday timesheets, the Australian said his team's long-run pace bodes well.

"Early signs are good," he said. "It is our best long runs we have seen, even though they were not very long.

"Like for like we were pretty good today for a Friday.

"We feel we are normally playing a bit of catch up on [Mercedes]. And although we still are, we are closer than we have been at the last few, so that is promising.

"I feel good. I think it was a really good Friday for us."

Despite his faith in Red Bull's race speed, Ricciardo does not think Mercedes can be challenged in qualifying unless it rains.

"We have a good chance in those [wet] conditions but let's see what happens there," he said.

"In the dry we have to aim for the second row."

Ricciardo's team-mate Sebastian Vettel had a more difficult Friday, but was also broadly optimistic about the car's potential.

"Overall it was OK. A few issues, but I don't think we had too many Fridays that were trouble free," said Vettel.

"In the dry if we get everything right we should be in a reasonable place."

MORE TO COME FROM MERCEDES

But while the Red Bull drivers were optimistic, Lewis Hamilton reckoned Mercedes still had plenty more to come.

Asked if he had managed a clean lap amid three red flags and some mistakes, the championship leader replied: "No I didn't. That's not a big issue. It's practice.

"Quite a few red flags at the end so we didn't get the best of long running, but it's the same for everyone.

"The car feels OK, some improvements we can make.

"It wasn't the best of days, I didn't really put together a good lap, but that will come tomorrow hopefully."