Lights Out: Ricciardo risks it all if his timing isn't right

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.

The Australian says he is prepared to wait as long as possible to make his move in contract negotiations with Red Bull, and any other interested parties.

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.

Toto Wolff may have diplomatically suggested that Ricciardo remains an option for Mercedes, but it would take a huge drop-off in form from Valtteri Bottas to open that door.

For whatever it's worth, Bottas has topped the F1 website's 'power rankings' across the past two grands prix. Though results have not followed, his performances since a dodgy opening in Australia have been excellent, helping him take a bullish view on his future.

If Ricciardo really is willing to wait until after the summer, he might find his options limited. And with Red Bull seriously pondering gambling on Honda in 2019, might he be better chasing a top team while his hand remains strong?

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Breathtaking from the Iceman in 2017 ????#MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/90RXqzXOfp — Formula 1 (@F1) May 19, 2018