Ricciardo has "something to prove" ahead of season opener

Daniel Ricciardo intends to show just how much of a talent he is in 2018 and says he has "something to prove". The Australian comes into this season knowing that his Red Bull team may be more focused on their young Dutch talent in Max Verstappen but he has no doubt he can still be the man to beat at the team.

He will be hoping his season gets underway much better than last year, a deluge of technical problems in 2017 meant that he had to retire on lap 25 with a fuel cell issue. Speaking to Fox Sports TV, Ricciardo reassured fans he still has a lot to offer this year.

"I always feel I have something to prove. People forget quickly as well,

"There's obviously a lot of talk about the young guys coming up, there's my teammate Max. And talk about Bottas and can he challenge Hamilton this year.

"You always feel you constantly have to remind people so I might just remind these cats and try and get myself in a good position."

It might be a make-or-break season for the Australian as he finds himself in the last year of his Red Bull contract and the team focused on his teammate Verstappen as their next great talent, but he wants to dictate how his career progresses and is fully focused on the year ahead.

READ: Verstappen the new "project Vettel" at Red Bull

"After your career is said and done you always want to say your career was over the limit not under it," he said.

"Otherwise you feel like you never understood your true potential.

"Last year the new cars had not been on the limit enough - I was just trying to do what I could...but now I am excited."

A potential drive at Mercedes has been touted and rumours have already begun to fly that he could replace Valtteri Bottas in 2019. The homegrown hero will just want a strong showing come Sunday at this point though.