Ricciardo decision won't be made until after summer

Daniel Ricciardo says he is happy to wait as long as possible to decide on his Formula 1 future, suggesting a decision may not be made until after the summer break. With his Red Bull contract expiring at the end of the year, Ricciardo is reportedly of interest to both Mercedes and Ferrari.

The Australian has maintained that he wants to start 2019 in a race seat in which he can fight for regular wins and the drivers' title.

Although he took victory in Shanghai this year, Red Bull's lack of pace thanks to the Renault engine means they are still playing catch-up to the Silver Arrows and Scuderia.

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A potential switch to Honda power units is a gamble that Ricciardo might not be willing to play a part in - Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the decision is keeping Ricciardo from committing to his existing employers.

"I don't feel like I need to sign anything soon," Ricciardo told The Paddock Magazine.

"I also want to see what happens with the team and with the other teams as well.

"So we'll see how the year takes place… I know that at some point, other teams will want to know my decision, but for me, for my mind, it does not matter right now.

"It could be after the summer as well… when I know what is going to happen next year, I'll be happy to sign something."

Ricciardo is now one of the elder statesmen on the grid, well into his seventh full season in F1.

The Australian is well aware that a new wave of talent is coming to challenge the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, led by his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.

However, Ricciardo does not feel any added pressure to win titles and more races, before that next generation take over.

"Not yet. Maybe in my early thirties, I would be looking for that next big contract seeing these kids coming," he explained.

"But right now I don't feel like my age is against me.

"If anything, it helps me, because the young drivers, not all of them, but many of them are crazy fast, but they make huge mistakes on the way.

"So I think I'm in the right balance of being fast and not making many mistakes."