Ricciardo claims there's "no hard evidence" Renault will top midfield again

New Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo knows the team's objective this season is to close the gap with the three teams ahead of them, but the Aussie warns that the midfield battle could get tough as well.

The 29-year-old Ricciardo has been a very busy man at Barcelona, having time on track in the RS19 every day of testing. 

When asked whether he thinks Renault are pulling away from the midfield in pursuit of the top three, Danny Ric couldn't say whether the midfield battle could even be won.

"It is guessing," he told Motorsport.

"I would like to think that we are at the front of it, but there is no hard evidence that we are.

"Our objective first and foremost is to be fourth or better in the team, but it is really trying to hone in on the gap to the top three. As you know, it is big so it is not going to happen overnight.

"But absolutely the target this year is to close it in, close it in, and try to develop the car.

"I know last year, speaking to Nico [Hulkenberg] and understanding how the team was last year, and that the rate of development wasn't always as fast as they would have liked, that is another thing this year.

"Just to understand what the car needs but also then to see it start to happen and happen a bit quicker.

"The team is building infrastructure, so it is expanding. They are addressing these things but that will also dictate perhaps how much we can pull away or catch the others."