Hulkenberg expecting Ricciardo clash sooner rather than later

Nico Hulkenberg says he is expecting a fight with new Renault teammate Daniel Ricciardo “very soon”. The French outfit has endured a difficult start to 2019, suffering reliability issues at all three rounds so far.

While the team is searching for answers on its reliability issues that have plagued both the works Renault team and customers McLaren, Hulkenberg says he is expecting Ricciardo to give him trouble sooner rather than later.

“Daniel still needs to get used to the car, to the team," Hulkenberg told Sky Sports F1.

With two DNF's each to their names, the Renault drivers find themselves tied on six points each, Hulkenberg 10th with Ricciardo 11th.

Their only on-track battle so far this season occurred in Bahrain before the team's double retirement just a handful of laps from the end.

A struggling Ricciardo lost out on that occasion, the Australian locking-up his worn tyres having been passed by Hulkenberg and the two made the briefest of contact.