Italian GP F1: Ricciardo says Red Bull can only aim at Sauber fight

Ricciardo and team-mate Daniil Kvyat will start at the back of the field at Monza, owing to double engine changes aimed at ensuring they do not have to make any more in Singapore in a fortnight.

The Australian was 13th in second practice, having lost track time with a hydraulic issue, and seventh in the morning, on a Friday focused on race performance.

However, Ricciardo is still expecting a tough Sunday afternoon, given how much time the Renault power unit is losing on the straights.

When asked who he expected to be challenging in the race, Ricciardo said: "I think if we can battle anyone with a Mercedes engine, we're doing pretty good.

"Sauber look pretty good today in terms of competition for us, so if we can be ahead of them and close to some of the Mercs, it's probably all we could ask for."

With a new-spec engine featuring "a few little things that should give us some extra horsepower", Ricciardo could at least take solace from his RB11's handling in low-downforce trim.

"We won't be completely at the back," he said. "We'll come through a few guys.

"The car does feel again quite good. In first practice this morning, we rolled it out and it felt pretty racy again.

"The chassis is [better] definitely, it's probably three races in a row now that we've felt comfortable with it, more like last year's now.

"Sure, we bleed a chunk on the straights, and that's what it is around here."

Kvyat also spent 30 minutes in the Red Bull garage on Friday afternoon due to a gearbox problem, and finished at the foot of the timesheets.

He was content to have focused on long runs, in the knowledge that "qualifying doesn't count".

"I think it might be quite tight in the middle group," he said.

"Obviously like expected it's quite a big advantage for Mercedes-powered cars here.

"It's not going to be an easy race for sure."