Ricciardo expected greater Ferrari interest

Daniel Ricciardo is "closer" to renewing his deal with Red Bull, having spoken of his surprise to see talks with Ferrari fizzle out. Ricciardo was heavily linked with a move to Maranello for 2019, although Charles Leclerc has now emerged as most likely to partner Sebastian Vettel next year.

The Australian shaped up as the key player in next season's driver market, with his Red Bull contract coming to an end and potential vacancies at both Mercedes and Ferrari.

However, the Silver Arrows appear set to retain Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc has reportedly agreed a two-year Ferrari deal to replace Kimi Raikkonen.

Ricciardo says his options have been "limited", suggesting a big-money bid from McLaren was given short shrift, and a new deal with Red Bull now appears nearly certain.

"I actually thought there would be more interest than there has been from them [Ferrari]," Ricciardo said.

"But maybe something has happened or whatever, I don't know. It's probably safe to say that my options are pretty limited.

"I don't think there will be much movement at the top. Mercedes won't change their drivers and Ferrari, who knows with them? They have Kimi, and now there's talk about Leclerc, but I don't know what they'll do.

"I'm obviously leaning toward staying here – I expect to have something signed, sealed and delivered by the summer break. It's definitely getting closer."

Red Bull are taking the plunge with Honda last year, despite Renault powering them to three wins from nine races in 2018, but Ricciardo says the new engine deal did not tempt him to look elsewhere.

"It's not that I was craving something else, I was just keeping open-minded," Ricciardo added.

"It's a tough one because I've felt for a lot of years that we have a great chassis and we'll win a few [grands prix] but we've not quite got there [to the front] yet.

"But if I leave and Honda come good, even though I know they still have a lot of work to do, there's a fear that if the team starts winning after I've gone then I'll be like 'Oh wow, what have I done?' I've done so much with this team. That would be pretty painful."