His boss may say Daniel Ricciardo has an ironclad contract for next year, but the Australian said from Monaco this week that time is running out for Red Bull to deliver him a world title-winning car.
Ricciardo, who signed a two-year extension contract with his team last year, has been a patient and loyal servant of the Woking-based outfit, but is showing signs of frustration now Ferrari - and particularly Ricciardo's former teammate Sebastian Vettel - has clearly surpassed Red Bull as Mercedes' main challenger.
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"Obviously now it gets to that point where we really, and I, want to be fighting for a championship," Ricciardo told Fairfax Media from Monaco.
"It can't kind of be a long-term plan anymore to me.
"Obviously I thought this year would be a chance and that seems to be slipping away. So we have got to see some real progress over the year and a sign that next year it can be delivered, because it is just, obviously, personal goals ... I have won a few races now and all that and that's great, but what I really want is a championship, so we'll see how the progress goes."
Ricciardo's comments came in a week where Red Bull and its engine supplier Renault appeared to have a public spat over engine upgrades and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Reuters Ricciardo and teammate Max Verstappen do not have escape clauses in their contract and will remain with Red Bull in 2018.
"No, none at all," Horner said. "They are both straightforward, clean contracts."I've got no doubt that both Max and Daniel will be driving an RB14 next year."
Ricciardo's comments also back this up, but he is clearly not as effusive in ruling out a move.
![Ricciardo says a competitive car "can't kind of be a long-term plan anymore".](http://web.archive.org./web/20170602150332im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/d/u/y/3/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwe6pv.png/1495848897299.jpg)
"At the moment, no," he said on Wednesday. "It's all ... I don't really know what they are going to [do to] be honest. It is all pretty much a closed book I guess at this stage. So yeah, it would be, I would say it is still an unlikely for next year."
Ricciardo started on pole position in Monaco last year and was second fastest in practice on Thursday around the twisting street circuit, where engine power is less a factor.
Red Bull had the best chassis last year, compensating for a lack of grunt from the Renault engine, and they cannot say that now.
"Chassis-wise I think we are having to make up ground to our competitors," said Horner. "Ferrari I think have got a very strong package at the moment. Mercedes, obviously, are right there also and I think we're closing the gap to them, but we're not quite at their level yet."
I have won a few races now and all that and that's great, but what I really want is a championship.
- with Reuters