Can the Red Bull star now be placed ahead of one of Hamilton, Alonso or Vettel?
Thursday 9 June 2016 11:06, UK
Just how good is Daniel Ricciardo?
Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso are widely considered to be the top three drivers on the F1 grid, but does Ricciardo's scintillating form so far this season mean it is time for that ranking to be revised?
That debate forms part of Wednesday night's F1 Report show ahead of this weekend's Canadian GP, a race exclusively live on Sky Sports F1.
Former McLaren driver Mark Blundell and Sky F1's Marc Priestley disagreed about whether Ricciardo was now ahead of at least one of the sport's long-established 'top three'.
"I think I'd stick him in the top three," said Priestley. "The three mentioned are incredible drivers in terms of pace in the car, but when you're looking as a team owner you've got to look at much more than that.
"You've got to look at how they integrate in a team, how they work with the team, and whether they are divisive characters sometimes.
"Some of those people do it better than others, and it's a factor."
However, Blundell, while saying Ricciardo is "right up there", believes the Australian still has a little way to go before he can be placed alongside the multiple champions in question.
"If I was a team principal, Lewis, Vettel and Alonso would be my choices," Blundell said.
"But Daniel would be very close in that mix."
Watch the video above to see the full debate between Marc, Mark and Natalie Pinkham. Skysports.com users can also have their say in the poll and via the comments section below.
The F1 Report: Canadian GP Preview airs at 8.30pm on Wednesday on Sky F1.
Other topics up for discussion include how the developing Mercedes v Red Bull fight will play out in Montreal, F1's relentless schedule of six races in eight weeks, and if Jenson Button really could replace Felipe Massa at Williams for 2017.
