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Daniel Ricciardo’s future is one of the hottest topics in sport, but the Australian driver says there is no rush to sign his next deal as reports continue to link him to a move to Mercedes.
The departing McLaren driver was keeping it cool ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, insisting he was being fully “transparent” with his future up in the air.
Ricciardo’s future has been up in the air ever since compatriot Oscar Piastri swooped in on his seat at McLaren.
It has left the eight-time grand prix winner with a huge decision to make on his future, and comes after he controversially left Red Bull to pursue opportunities elsewhere at Renault and McLaren – decisions widely regarded as moves that backfired.
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Since the messy circumstances surrounding his impending departure from McLaren, which comes after an unhappy 2022 season which improved with a fifth-place finish in Singapore, he has been linked with a number of moves.
Alpine, Hass and Williams have reportedly sounded Ricciardo out, but the 33-year-old has recently been linked to a move to Mercedes as their reserve driver.
French broadcaster Canal+ said Ricciardo was in “advanced talks” over the move to Mercedes.
Ricciardo, however, was not giving away much when he fronted the media ahead of this weekend’s Japanese GP, saying he would not jump at the first offer.
“Keen on resolving it?” he said at a press conference. “I wouldn’t say there is a problem.
“I am just taking time to figure out what will be the best thing for me.
“There is no rush. I feel no pressure to quickly sign something.
“I want to take the right amount of time. I won’t just sign the first contract to be back on the grid.
“I’ll keep going with the season and it will become clear what is best for me.”
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Hass Boss Guenther Steiner recently said Ricciardo needed to “find out what he wants to do in life” before settling on his decision.
“He needs to weigh up what he wants to do,” he told Sky F1.
“If he decides to join a team at the back of the grid, that doesn’t mean he cannot move on up the grid.
“He needs to find out what he wants to do in life, and that will take him time because this is a big decision for his career and I’m sure he takes it very carefully what he wants to do.”
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Pressed on his future, Ricciardo insisted there was nothing else to say but admitted results would help make his future clearer.
“There’s nothing you don’t know! Full transparency,” he said.
“Good results help, they make everything better.
“This isn’t a question of whether I still want to do it. I do.
“The result felt good but doesn’t change my course [for next season]. That’s why I want to be at the front.”
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