Daniel Ricciardo knows all about timing, just ask any opponent that he's screamed past under breaking in the past few years. However, the Red Bull driver needs to strike just when the iron is at its hottest if he is to enjoy the 2019 season that he craves.
Pre-season, it seemed clear: Ricciardo would choose whether he wanted to be dressed in blue, red or silver next year and it would happen, no questions asked.
However, Red Bull are yet to fully crash Mercedes' and Ferrari's party as we thought they might in 2018 and this potentially weakens Ricciardo's hand, as the drivers he might have replaced at Mercedes and Ferrari deliver impressive performances.
When Kimi Raikkonen's car or pit crew haven't let him down he's scored a podium. Ferrari's preference for Sebastian Vettel to be partnered by someone willing to assist his title ambitions, rather than obstruct them, could see the Finn race in Formula 1 into his forties.