Daniel Ricciardo has rued the Formula One deficiencies which prevented him meeting his 2017 expectations as he races for his second win of the season at the Abu Dhabi finale.
Ricciardo rates his year as good, not great, amid impressive performances for a career-best nine podiums despite being held back by engine problems.
The Australian Red Bull star has vowed to improve in the off-season as he gives 2018 a "proper crack".
"There's been some great races. Obviously, I would love all 20 to be great and not all 20 have been," Ricciardo told reporters ahead of Sunday's race.
"For me, it's just to assess the year once it's all settled and then just try to understand what I could have improved. I'm sure there's on-track stuff but also off track.
"Obviously I give every year a good crack, but give next year a proper crack.
"I've been pretty pleased with the year. I've still got some improvements to make and I'm looking forward to extracting a bit more from myself."
Ricciardo, whose sole race win came in Baku in June, is fighting to hang onto fourth in the drivers' championship and wants a win for confidence heading into the break.
His prospects for Abu Dhabi are shaky having received grid penalties in the last two races for his team replacing parts in his car's Renault engine.
He rates Yas Marina one of his favourite tracks but has never reached the podium there, with his best showing a fourth in 2014.
"When you have so much time away from the car in the off-season it helps to sign off with a strong result as it makes you feel like you really deserve a break," he told the Red Bull Racing website.
"I think we should have a strong car in Abu Dhabi.
"I want another win before the season is out and I think we have a decent chance of achieving that."
