Daniel Ricciardo would “love” to land a drive at the “perfect team” for the next phase of his Formula 1 career in 2019, Mark Webber has claimed.
The Australian is out of contract at the Anglo-Austrian team at the end of the year and his future is likely to be a topic of debate based on how he and Red Bull perform at his home race in Melbourne next weekend.
Serious considerations over whether to renew or look elsewhere are likely to start next month, however, with Ricciardo eyeing up Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes seat or Kimi Raikkonen’s place at Ferrari.
“The first part of the year is very important for [Daniel],” Webber told The Age newspaper. “He knows he is on a tightrope.
“The team sees that and they are measuring everything now. There is nowhere to hide, which is good for him because it sorts out the wheat from the chaff.”
As the 28-year-old weighs up what he admits is the most important decision of his career, the main factors influencing it are whether Red Bull with Renault or Honda can compete with Mercedes and Ferrari for the title and whether he is guaranteed equal status alongside the ever-growing talent of Max Verstappen.
“Red Bull, do they know how to put a championship together? Absolutely,” he said.
“It’s just a question if he wants the absolute perfect team in 2019 and tries to get the number one status somewhere in those teams [Mercedes or Ferrari]. That’s what he would love to achieve.”
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The former WEC world champion knows all too well the dilemma Ricciardo faces having been the man alongside Sebastian Vettel during his four consecutive world championships and having his future at Red Bull questioned.
“At the end of the day, when the helmet is on, it can’t affect you. Whether you have a five-year contract or a five-minute contract, you have to deliver,” he stated.
And Webber has no doubts about Ricciardo, adding: “He has had a long career and continues to have a long career because he deserves to be there,” he said. “He is safe in F1.”
