Share this article on LinkedIn Email

Daniel Ricciardo is convinced the troubled season he is currently encountering with Red Bull will not hinder his future prospects in Formula 1.

The Australian's third place last time out in Hungary was comfortably the highlight of a year which has been heavily compromised for Red Bull by its under-performing Renault engine.

It's a dramatic change in fortunes for Ricciardo following a 2014 season where he won three races and outperformed four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

But Ricciardo, who along with Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas and most recently Max Verstappen has been linked with a move to Ferrari, does not believe this year will affect future in F1.

"I know last year wasn't a fluke," he told AUTOSPORT.

"If I'd just won one race and only beat Seb a handful of times I'd say 'OK maybe I got lucky here and there'.

"But the consistency of my performance last year has definitely given me all the confidence in myself that I need."

"In a way, the more recent your success is, the more people will remember it.

"But what I did last year is still carrying me through this year, so even if this year goes bad I'm sure there would still be interest in me after this year.

"Maybe if next year is not great either, then maybe some people will start to forget.

"That said, the people that understand the sport, pretty much all the big people in the sport, I'm sure they know a good driver when they see one.

"I proved that last year and that will at least carry me through for a few years and then by that stage I'm sure we'll have a competitive machine again."

Looking ahead to the final nine races of the season when Renault is expected to upgrade its engine, Ricciardo is hopeful Red Bull can build on its double-podium in Hungary, though he concedes wins will be unlikely.

"I don't expect miracles for this year but we can still get a little bit more from the engine," said Ricciardo.

"It's not going to be enough to fight for the wins, it will be a little bit more.

"We can still optimise the car around the problems we have."