Ricciardo hopes return to racing will make contract talks easier

Daniel Ricciardo says getting back to racing will help him handle impending contract discussions with Red Bull. As he enters his fifth season with the team, Ricciardo could play a major role in the 2019 driver market if he decides to leave at the end of the year.

Ricciardo's current deal expires at the end of 2018 and he stated during pre-season testing that talks are likely to begin in April.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also revealed in Barcelona that a deadline has already been set for those talks to be finished by.

Having regularly fielded questions about his future at the Circuit de Catalunya, Ricciardo is looking forward to focusing on racing once again, starting with his home grand prix in Australia in less than two weeks' time.

"For me personally I'm glad testing is over as it is not that exciting especially when you are in the car doing long runs with a bit of fuel," Ricciardo said.

Catch me on my good side... ???? pic.twitter.com/JEPuAgjOQw — Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 12, 2018

"I'm looking forward to Melbourne which is what my sights are set on to get the job done there and hopefully it'll make the situation a little easier to handle.

"We'll have to see after the first couple of races.

"It is going to be interesting and it is going to be tough.

"Everyone wants to move on and try to figure out what the plan is, not for this season which hasn't even started yet, but for 2019."