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Ricciardo wants to wait for 2018 before future decision
Daniel Ricciardo says he wants to wait until the start of the new year before making a decision about his future in Formula 1.
Lawrence Barretto
Edited: Dec 2, 2017, 11:29 AM
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Formula 1 2018
The 2018 Formula 1 World Championship is the 69th season of the world’s leading open-wheel single-seater series. Sanctioned by the sport’s governing body, the FIA, its 10 teams and 20 drivers will compete in 21 Grands Prix around the world, beginning in Australia on March 25 and ending in Abu Dhabi on November 25. <p>The French Grand Prix, at Circuit Paul Ricard, returns to the calendar for the first time since 2008. The German Grand Prix, at Hockenheim, reappears after a one-year absence. The Malaysian Grand Prix, run since 1999 at Sepang, has dropped off the 2018 calendar.</p> <p>The main technical change for the new season is the adoption of the Halo cockpit protection system to all cars.</p>
Ricciardo's contract expires at the end of next season, but he is keen to wait until racing gets under way to get a better idea of what each team offers.
Red Bull, which already has Max Verstappen signed up until the end of 2020, has said it is prepared to wait until early next year for him to decide on his future.
"I'm sure there will be a few discussions in the next week or two, especially with the team," said Ricciardo, who starts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from fourth.
"But once I get home and over Christmas, I want to switch off from racing. I would like to know something earlier, but I don't need to do it in the winter.
"I highly doubt I'll be signing any dotted lines over the next month unless I get… no, probably not even. I was going to say unless I get a ridiculous offer but probably not even.
"It's not about the offer, it's about who is going to have the best car for then 2019. It's worth me seeing how the start of the year goes.
"I don't want to be too clever and hope I have every option possible. I think I've got enough time on my side to sit it out a bit."
Ricciardo added he was keen not to rush the decision and make the wrong call because he's aware the next contract he will sign will cover his peak years in F1.
"It's a reason why I'm afraid to rush the decision," he said. "Whatever I sign, it's unlikely going to be a one-year [deal], it's likely to be a multiple-year deal I'm assuming.
"The peak years of my career are probably the next deal I'll sign so I want to make sure I maximise that with my driving ability. It's why I'm going to take my time."
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