Double Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen believes "it's a shame" that Daniel Ricciardo is stuck in a midfield team at Renault.

The Australian sought a new challenge from Red Bull in 2019, betting his F1 career on the French manufacturer continuing the progress they had been making since 2016.

However, this year that would stall leaving Ricciardo often scrambling simply to score points and Hakkinen fears that drop in where he's fighting could hurt him

"I think it's a shame to see him in a place where he can't win," the former McLaren driver told Unibet. "If you come from a winning position and you start in a team that loses, that is frustrating.

"Ricciardo is a very positive boy but you have to avoid doubting yourself, nothing is wrong with his qualities but that it is wrong with the car."

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The 30-year-old is keeping his normal upbeat outlook, however, setting the same target he had for next season even before this year's troubles.

“This season hasn’t been disheartening," Ricciardo said via Crash.net. "I think we can get this going next year for where we can still believe in 2020. [We’re on track] to reach some podiums next year.

“Yeah, it’s a stretch, but I do believe that if we do what we believe we can, it’s still there. This season hasn’t taken any wind out of our sails, it’s just a bit more fuel for the fire."

The 'Honey Badger' has also now revealed what change he hopes to make at the Enstone-based squad in 2020.

“For next year I’ve got some ideas of things I can do more or better. I feel like I integrated myself into the team well this year, but I look back and am like I can do more,” Ricciardo said.

“I want to have a bit more presence before the season starts, before testing, but also have some ideas which of things we can do together as a team to get us into the season.

"As a team unit, I want to get to Barcelona feeling like we got some momentum before the season even starts.

“Even some team morale stuff, call it team building and some activities. More importantly to spend time with the team, even away from the track.

“At the track even like with Cyril [Abiteboul, Renault team principal] sometimes it is 'hi' and that is all you get over the weekend because we are busy. So you don’t always get good quality time at the circuit.

“I feel that to take this relationship to the next level, getting time away from the track is good. Just having that feeling, even for the guys, if they know each other a bit more, they will want to work a little bit harder for each other and make some good stuff happen.”