Jerez F1 test: Red Bull Racing's Ricciardo expected 'compromised' test

Daniel Ricciardo insists he expected Red Bull's first 2015 Formula 1 test to be compromised, after a Renault engine change disrupted his running at Jerez on Tuesday.

The need to switch to a fresh Renault V6 limited Ricciardo to 49 laps on the third day of 2015 F1 activity, while Nico Rosberg's Mercedes topped the mileage charts again on 151 laps.

Ricciardo's Tuesday problems came after Red Bull's Monday session was wasted when Daniil Kvyat damaged the only front wing assembly the team had at Jerez.

Renault had been under pressure to make big improvements over the winter, but Ricciardo - who had also been affected by technical issues on Sunday - denied he was perturbed that engine problems had continued into 2015 so far.

"We came into this test knowing it was a pretty big evolution from last year, and we knew it would be tight," he said.

"Obviously we'd love to 150 laps here, but we knew it would be compromised one way or another.

"I think we're where we thought we would be.

"We know there are still some steps for the Barcelona tests. We know there's stuff still to come.

"We didn't expect to have everything on the track this week.

"Come the next two tests, we want to be racking up more laps, and I think we will."

Ricciardo reiterated that Red Bull was still in better shape than 12 months earlier, when it barely ran during the opening test.

"Obviously, the more laps the better. But 49 laps is good for us today," he said.

"Looking back to last year, there are a lot of positives."