Extra Pressure Suits Ricciardo as he aims for Title Push in 2015

Daniel Ricciardo admits that there will be extra pressure on him after his breakthrough season with Red Bull last year but the ever smiling Aussie says that's just the way he likes it.

The 2014 triple race winner believes that Red Bull can mount a realistic title push this year and is happy that, having been elevated to senior status on the driving strength, he can produce the form to heap some pressure of his own on the champion Mercedes squad.

"Yeah, now people are aware of what I can do so I guess if I come out in Melbourne and do really well they won't be as surprised but again it doesn't change my approach to it," the 25-year-old said at Red Bull's media day at SnoZone Milton Keynes.

"I expect to be quick but I won't let other people's expectations affect my performance. If it does add more pressure it some ways, I tend to enjoy those situations so I'll just try to use it to my advantage."

Ricciardo's confidence is sky high following his race wins and the manner in which he dispatched the challenge of Sebastian Vettel last year and his sunny disposition is reflected in his stated goals for the season.

"[To] win more races and, hopefully, more results in a title fight, yeah. A proper one. I was hanging on by a string last year for a bit but a realistic [title bid] this year would be good.

"Obviously last year went really really well. Last year I was the young kid and Seb was the old guy, now I am [the old guy]. At the end of the day you're still competing against your team mate and all the other guys.

"I think if you're smart enough, it shouldn't affect the way you drive. Behind the wheel all should remain unchanged and I don't plan on doing too much differently."

Ricciardo sees the all conquering Mercedes as the team to beat but is confident that Red Bull, with the advantage of in season engine development from Renault, can bring the fight to the silver arrows.

"I think if we can even halve the gap [to Mercedes] and start the season and then apply a bit of pressure as the season goes on and just try and be perfect and when they're not perfect, that's when we can start putting some pressure on them.

"Hopefully we have a good winter. Both of us, I'm sure we will work together and put Red Bull in the strongest position as possible in Melbourne and I guess the quickest guy will come out on top and that'll be that."

"You'd like to think that everyone's going to improve that's a fact but you'd like to think that Mercedes' room for improvement is smaller than everyone else's because I think they made so much of it last year.

"I hope I'm right. I hope they don't have another 50% step over what they but, yeah, I think there's more room for us, Ferrari, to make that gap.

"McLaren with Honda is going to be interesting. Obviously Mercedes are now the hunted and hopefully we can close that. Time will tell.

"I expect Williams to be strong again. The big question mark is McLaren with Honda. I'm actually excited to see how they go. I think they've obviously got the potential to do very well so yeah, that's probably the one that everyone is going to be watching to see what sort of step they've made and what they bring to the table."

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