MONACO -- As Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel struggles to get into gear, Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardos is gliding through the curves. Ricciardo is in fifth place overall, six points behind fourth-place Vettel, and secured his first career podium two weeks ago when he finished third at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Australian driver has beaten Vettel in qualifying in three of the five races, and has twice featured on the front row -- qualifying second in Australia and in China. Vettel was so dominant last year, winning the last nine races and 13 overall, that it seemed highly improbable Ricciardo would challenge him in his first season since moving from Toro Rosso. "Some people didnt expect this from me, but I knew deep down that I could do well," Ricciardo said at the Monaco GP on Friday. "If I am able to push a four-time world champion then I know that I am doing something right." Rule changes to engine size and lowered fuel loads have blighted Red Bull, which is unable to generate the same speed, and is lagging way behind Mercedes, as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg run away with the championship. "Seb had a car at the end of last year he was very comfortable with, so it might have taken him a little by surprise to have a more complex car this year," Ricciardo said. "Maybe I have adapted to the new conditions a bit quicker." Vettel had a frosty relationship with former teammate Mark Webber, who retired after last years championship. Although there are no signs of tension between him and Ricciardo, it appears Vettels team role has somewhat lessened this season. "Particularly in preseason, Seb was doing a lot of the talking within the team and a lot of the feedback, because he knew everyone and they trusted him," Ricciardo said. "But now that I have some results and Ive got to know the team a lot better, they are now leaning on both of us for feedback." Ricciardo would be ahead of Vettel had he not been disqualified in front of his home fans at the season-opening Australian GP, where he was stripped of his second-place finish, and the 18 points that go with it, for breaching F1s new rules on fuel usage. "It did so much for my confidence seeing all those people cheering and shouting my name," Ricciardo said. "It actually made me even hungrier with how it went because it got taken away from me." Nike Shoes From China Outlet . And theyre pointing to the NHLs biggest market: Toronto. With Gretzky paid out for what is believed to be $7 to 8 million, Gretzky may be eager to get back into the NHL and TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports that the Maple Leafs are very much interested in The Great Ones services. Nike Shoes From China Online . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. https://www.nikeshoeschina.us/. 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Wholesale Nike Shoes From China . - Zac Leslie scored two goals and assisted on two more, and Justin Nichols made 34 saves as the Guelph Storm blanked the Kitchener Rangers 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday.Grapevine, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - TCU and Baylor didnt play in a conference championship game. Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. The Buckeyes, a day after their 59-0 rout of Wisconsin, jumped to fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday, giving Urban Meyers team a shot at the national title. SEC winner Alabama (12-1) remained No. 1 in the rankings and Pac-12 champion Oregon (12-1) stayed No. 2. ACC winner and reigning national champion Florida State (13-0) moved up one spot to No. 3. Alabama will play Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Oregon will take on Florida State in the Rose Bowl, also on New Years Day. The winners will play for the national championship on Jan.dddddddddddd. 12. The playoffs replaced the oft-criticized BCS, which was in place from 1998 until last season. Controversy did not die with the new system. TCU was ranked third last week, but fell despite a 55-3 rout of Iowa State on Saturday. Baylor, which was sixth in the rankings last week, gained a share of the Big 12 title with TCU thanks to a 38-27 win over Kansas State Saturday night. Baylor beat TCU 61-58 on Oct. 11. Despite being down to its third-string quarterback, Ohio State (12-1) was able to get into the semifinals. The Buckeyes won their 11th consecutive game since losing to Virginia Tech 35-21 on Sept. 6. ' ' '