Breaking news
Formula 1
Ricciardo admits "a lot at stake" in next F1 contract decision
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted to feeling there is "a lot at stake" over his future Formula 1 contract talks, as he insists he will not be pressured in to making a decision before he is ready.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Dec 4, 2017, 2:15 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Australian's current deal with Red Bull runs out at the end of next year, and the Milton Keynes-based team has been clear that its priority is to keep him on board alongside Max Verstappen until the end of 2020.
But Ricciardo wants to wait to see how teams perform at the start of next year before making a call – and he may even hold back even longer because he knows how important his next career step is.
Writing in his driver column on Red Bull's website, Ricciardo said about his contract: "So where do things stand? The short answer is that there's absolutely no rush, and things can take as long as they take – I'm not setting a deadline for anyone else's sake, or just to get it done for me.
"I'm not just going to settle on something because I want it to be off my mind, because there's a lot at stake. It's a big decision for me, so if I need to take time to make it, [and] I will.
"I'm planning on being in the sport for a long while yet, but in saying that, if I was to sign, say, a three-year deal, that's a big chunk of the next part of my career.
"I need to get it right, so it's a big call – the most important one for me yet, I think. I'll take as much time as I need to. It's not going to be a distraction."
While Ricciardo knows there could be a bidding war for his services – with potential vacancies opening up at Mercedes and Ferrari – he says that his only focus is on finding the car that will give him the best chance of winning.
"I know what I want, and the performance side is more important than ticking the money box, if you like," he said. "Having the chance to be able to fight for something really meaningful – races, championships – that's the absolute priority. It's not even close.
"Being in the position to make the decision is something cool, something unusual, and something where I feel like I'll probably learn a lot. No matter what happens, it'll be a growing experience for me because it's something I've not been through.
"It'll be nice to stand on my own two feet and make some grown-up decisions. Maybe even act like an adult! It's all part of the evolution, I'm told …"
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Marchionne warns Ferrari quit threat remains "serious"
Next article Button: F1 sabbatical brought back my love for racing
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Daniel Ricciardo
Why Daniel Ricciardo is staying away from the F1 paddock
Formula 1
Formula 1
Why Daniel Ricciardo is staying away from the F1 paddock
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
More from
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 h
Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
16 h
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Latest news
Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
5 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
5 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
5 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe