Daniel Ricciardo believes Red Bull Racing would have won some races in the latter part of 2015 had the team been running with Mercedes power rather than its Renault power unit.
The Australian felt the team made a step up in performance around the Hungarian Grand Prix, which was the only time both Red Bull drivers finished on the podium in 2015 when he finished third just behind team-mate Daniil Kvyat, but their results were compromised by running with the underpowered and unreliable Renault engine.
“Since Hungary, the car not only performed better, but it was easier to set up,” said Ricciardo to Autosport. “Our Friday evenings finished so much earlier.
“It’s like 2014, it’s been in that window. We either found the window or the window just expanded.
“The signs were there at Silverstone, but Budapest was really where it turned. I’d honestly say from Budapest, if we had a Merc in the back we would’ve won a few races, to say the least.”