Daniel Ricciardo says it will be the pressure of his younger team-mates over the next couple of seasons that will prꦗove he is still a front-runner in F1.

The Australian is venturing♑ into only his second season with the Renault team since making his big money switch from Red Bull at the start of 20🔴19. However, this comes after he confirmed he would be switching to rivals McLaren for the 2021 F1 season.

Nonetheless, after seeing off team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in 2019, Ricciardo faces a fresh challenge in Esteban Ocon who 🐠will be returning to F1 after a year on the sidelines.

Known as a fierce rival to have in your own garage, as demonstrated by the Frenchman’s controversial clashes with then Force India team-m𒉰ate Sergio Perez, Ricciardo says it will be a good marker for him.

“I haven’t raced him as a team-mate yet but same kind of deal, I’m still pretty excited𓄧 to have these kind of young little ankle-biters coming at me,” Ricciardo told the F1 Nat📖ion.

“I’m excited to see h💯ow he goes. We say [some drivers are] rusty. He’s the most rusty having all last year off as w꧃ell. So I know he’s chomping at the bit to get going.”

The same can be saidඣ for Ricciardo’s future team-mate Lando Norris, who is on the trajectory after a very encouraging rookie season with McLaren in 2019.

“I mean, hopefully a lot. Obviously, I felt that with Max at Red Bull - I feel like 𓆉we both lifted each other by pushing each other by being the competitors that we are. I would obviously love that and expect that from Lando,🌞 and I say I expect it because he had a really strong rookie year.

“I’m pr🧸etty sure he out-qualified Carlos [Sainz, his McLaren team mate]. That’s quite a statement for his rookie year. So I expect him to be there and I think we’re both pretty easy-going once the helmet’s off, and I think people probably have a bit of fun with that but I’m sure we’re going to see some good competition.”