Daniel Ricciardo says the start of 2015 was a frustrating time for him because he expected to be fighting for the world championship.

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While Mercedes dominated in 2014, Ricciardo finished third in the drivers’ championship as the only non-Mercedes driver to win a race thanks to victories in Canada, Hungary and Belgium. However, Renault’s targeted big step forward in terms of performance didn’t materialise and an uncompetitive power unit restricted Ricciardo to a best result of sixth place in the first five races.

Ricciardo admits he had prepared himself to be fighting for the drivers’ championship this season off the back of his performances in 2014, and says he had to reset his targets once it became clear it was an unrealistic goal.

“I think this year I’ve learned to control, or understand, different scenarios, situations and emotions,” Ricciardo told the Red Bull website. “It’s been a lot more challenging year off-track, in terms of staying on the right track mentally.

“For example, coming into the season I expected to come out and fight for the title. That was where I mentally put myself. Then obviously after a few races you start to get frustrated, because you’re not getting what you want so you then have to take a step back to understand how you can make the best of the situation you’re in.”

Ricciardo finished 2015 in eighth place in the drivers’ standings, three points behind team-mate Daniil Kvyat.