Red Bull racing team principal Christian Horner says Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo is exceeding expectations despite the team’s early season struggles.

Ricciardo finished fourth for Red Bull in China, with quadruple champion Vettel fifth after being ordered to move aside for his younger team mate for the second race in a row. The German did so, but only after initial reluctance.

Ricciardo has outqualified Vettel three times but Horner said the German would fight back.

“We know that Seb is very sensitive to the car, how it enters into a corner and at the moment he hasn’t got the feel that he needs from the car,” he said.

“As soon as he gets on top of that, bang. He’ll be right back,” added the team boss.

Horner said Ricciardo has been cool under pressure and has been immensely impressive starting in the second car.

“We knew he was quick but he’s exceeded all our expectations so far,” he said.

“His confidence is growing, you can see that.”

Vettel, winner of nine races in a row at the end of last year, has made slow starts before and still come out on top but he faces his biggest challenge yet.

The new Mercedes power unit has been the pick of the grid, while Red Bull’s partners Renault are still playing catch up.

Although Red Bull has now clawed its way back to second in the constructors’ standings, they are 97 points behind Mercedes. Vettel is fifth in the drivers’ championship, 46 adrift of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg.

The next race is the Spanish Grand Prix on May 11, with all the teams sure to bring upgrades after the three-week break.

Chinese Grand Prix leaderboard:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:36:52.810
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) +00:18.686
3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) +00:25.765
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) +00:26.978
5. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) +00:51.012
6. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +00:57.581
7. Valtterri Bottas (Williams) +00:58.145
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +01:23.990
9. Sergio Perez (Force India) +01:26.489
10. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) + 1 lap