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Daniel Ricciardo believes his Red Bull Formula 1 team is back to its best for the British Grand Prix after the problems it endured in Austria.

The world champion F1 team struggled for pace at the Red Bull Ring, with Ricciardo finishing down in eighth position and team-mate Sebastian Vettel retiring after being hit by electrical problems early in the race.

Ricciardo, however, had an encouraging first day of practice at Silverstone, posting the fourth fastest time. Vettel was fifth.

The Australian felt Red Bull was set to return to the competitiveness it had before Austria.

"I hope so," Ricciardo said when asked if the Austrian GP struggles had been a one-off.

"Today the car definitely behaved better in medium/high speed corners. We were back to our stronger point there and I think Austria for now is a one-off.

"Through the high speed [corners] it feels really good actually. Copse is a lot of fun, we are seventh gear through there.

"We arrive in eighth and there is a little lift to seventh and go flat again, but we had a bit of a headwind through Maggots/Becketts which helped the grip, so hopefully that stays there and it will be a lot of fun in qualifying."

Vettel, who finished a tenth behind his team-mate, said Red Bull still needs more pace.

"I think we need to improve still. It was quite windy today which didn't make life easy out there, it was decent," said Vettel.

"Mercedes is ahead but behind that is really close."