Daniel Ricciardo thinks Red Bull will be "very close" to the front in Singapore regardless of whether Mercedes solve their problems from 2015's race.

Singapore was Mercedes' worst grand prix last year, the only race in the first two years of the V6 turbo era where the team failed to have a driver on the podium. Ricciardo split the Ferraris to finish second in 2015, just 1.4s off race winner Sebastian Vettel.

Though Mercedes hopes to have solved its Singapore issues this time around Ricciardo thinks Monaco -- where he claimed his maiden pole position in May -- proved Red Bull is in a stronger position than 2015.

Asked if he can expect as strong a race this year, Ricciardo replied: "I think so, I say that because I think we've got a better package this year than we did last year, you know last year we pretty much fought for a victory, so looking at that I think that we should be there.

"I think the question is Mercedes, if they're able to solve their issues from last year then of course they'll be the ones to beat. Even if they're quick I think we'll still be like Monaco, we can still be very close to them, so we'll have a good car in a couple of weeks, should be fun."

Ricciardo thinks Singapore is the perfect place for Red Bull and Renault to demonstrate the gains its made in both aerodynamics and engine

"I think we've shown on circuits and previous circuits the power is not... we're not too far off now, so we thought that used to be like 80-20[engine-chassis ratio] this year I think the chassis is pretty much there, the power we've halved the gap...."