Ricciardo 'walking a tightrope' in 2018 - Webber

Mark Webber says his fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo wil be "walking a tightrope" in 2018 as he ponders his future at Red Bull. Both Mercedes and Ferrari have been credited with an interest in Ricciardo, who is a free agent next year, but Webber warned against losing focus on races.

Ricciardo is set to open talks with Red Bull in April, with a deadline already in place for those negotiations to draw to a close.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has expressed their determination to keep hold of Ricciardo, but has also talked up their options should he decide to leave. Carlos Sainz Jr has been namechecked by Horner, the former Toro Rosso man is on loan at Renault for 2018.

And Webber says the scrutiny will be raised on Ricciardo from the off this year as he plots his next move.

"The first part of the year is very important for [Daniel]," Webber told The Age. "He knows that. He is on a tight rope. There is no question.

"Any driver comes to that point in his career where it's negotiation time again on contract. There is a little bit more in the air around the team.

"The team sees that. They are measuring everything now. There is nowhere to hide, which is good for him because it sorts out the wheat from the chaff.

"I have been through that stability, in the middle of it where you are just knuckling down.

"And, obviously, right on the edge where you are waiting to renew your contract. Whether it's you stalling, or the team stalling.

"I have been through both of those," he continued. "At the end of the day, when the helmet is on, it can't affect you. Whether you have a five-year contract or a five-minute contract, you have to deliver."

Ricciardo is reportedly keen to nail down a spot in a potential title-winning team, having replaced Webber at the then-constructors' champions Red Bull in 2014, only for Mercedes to dominate the hybrid era, leaving him with five race wins in four years.

Webber believes Red Bull are capable of getting back to their best, with an anticipated leap forward this year, but says solving their engine woes could be key.

"He has had a long career and continues to have long career, because he deserves to be there," he said. "He is safe in Formula 1.

A big day for @danielricciardo who tallies 165 laps in the #RB14 and tops the timesheet with a 1:18.047 ???????? #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/EjKtKu3X1l — Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 7, 2018

"It's just a question if he is wants the absolute perfect team in 2019 and try to get the number one status somewhere in those teams. That's what he would love to achieve.

"Red Bull, do they know how to put a championship together? Absolutely. They are crafty, in the trenches, they will use every trick in the book. They know what to do to put a long campaign together.

"It's just whether Renault can sustain the blow torch of the amount of horsepower and consistency and reliability that Mercedes have over the course of a long campaign."