But now he is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper: "It is increasingly likely that I will stay, although I haven't signed yet and we're working on some details."
It is believed Mercedes wants to keep Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for 2019, while Ferrari may have baulked at Ricciardo's price-tag.
"Not all the doors have been closed, but it seems increasingly likely that the other teams will stay with their current drivers," said Ricciardo.
"I'm not absolutely certain about that, but you can read between the lines. If I'm not at Red Bull there are two other very attractive options and if they are not possible it's difficult to see a better option than Red Bull," he added.
Redbull and factory powerunit supply. Considering that Redbull will not have to pay for these engines. He would be foolish to sign for another team. However never underestimate the power of money if mcLaren offers enough he will go to them.
That Honda engine will not be the same next year. Honda has got the an very good resource pool and the combination will Redbull will allow them to join up and move the PU on.
If anything it will be interesting to see the progress that Redbull makes. Sometimes in F1 you have to be i the right place at the right time, I think Mercedes had their time; Ferrari is on the up; Honda is on the up. Redbull/Ferrari are the teams to be in.
Ferrari are lining up Leclerc, Mercedes Ocon .. Now is not the time to leave Redbull.
I wonder what the dynamics in the team will be next year then.
He has openly said he would rather be somewhere else (if it were available) and he ll ask for a pretty pay check.
He better hope Max (who, if we are to believe Niki, could have gone to MB) will keep making mistakes (because he is not outdriving Max, that s clear), otherwise it will be 2nd fiddle I m afraid.
If he openly said that he'd rather be somewhere else, (which is quite a statement I think), then I wonder why RedBull still want him in the team. The only thing I can think of is that they want a fast driver next to Max, but one that has little to demand. Not a good place it would think.The only thing he can do is be really fast. Well, that is why he got in in the first place. So it all lies in his own hands. And that is actually not a bad situation...
"Not all the doors have been closed, but it seems increasingly likely that the other teams will stay with their current drivers," said Ricciardo.
"I'm not absolutely certain about that, but you can read between the lines. If I'm not at Red Bull there are two other very attractive options and if they are not possible it's difficult to see a better option than Red Bull,"
Especially that last sentence tells me RB is plan B for him
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Its not like, he has many other options to choose from.