Ricciardo reveals 'weight' of F1 future burden

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed to a burden F1 drivers have to bear when their future in the sport is on the line.

This year's driver market has been intense since it was announced on February 1 that Lewis Hamilton would be joining Ferrari next season.

With so many drivers coming into this campaign knowing they would be out of contract at the end of the year, Hamilton's sensational move lit the blue touch paper to speculation and rumour that has continued apace.

Ricciardo is one of those drivers whose future is currently up in the air despite coming into the season with his eyes on a return to Red Bull.

A poor start has resulted in Ricciardo being bypassed as Red Bull instead handed Sergio Perez a new deal, whilst his RB team-mate Yuki Tsunoda has additionally been handed a one-year extension.

Ricciardo finds himself in an uncomfortable position, knowing he has to prove himself before a decision can be made.

With Sainz going through mental anguish as he ponders which team to join, explaining his own situation in contrast, the Australian said: "It's tough, because as Carlos touched on, there's not really just one thing behind a decision.

"There are so many…it can be very taxing. Of course, you need to give it the time required because it's your future and it's your career and obviously something you work very hard for.

"But also as he touched on, at some point you just want to make the decision and kind of move on. But it's tough because you can't take it lightly.

"I guess we all go through it. We've all been through it in some way, shape or form. But I think it means a lot to us and that's why we obviously put so much weight on it."

Ricciardo

At least in terms of securing a new deal with RB, Ricciardo took a step towards that with his performance where he out-qualified and finished ahead of Tsunoda in the Canadian Grand Prix.

The 34-year-old, though, is perfectly aware he needs a string of such weekends to take the pressure off, in particular, with Liam Lawson waiting in the wings.

Assessing his current position, he added: "Canada obviously helps. I needed a result like that.

"Obviously, I would like to stay. Now that I'm back in the Red Bull family, I really don't see myself anywhere else. It's where I'd love to stay and continue.

"I also said, I think before the weekend in Canada, that I obviously want to earn it. I don't want it to be, 'Yeah,  okay, stay another year’.

"I obviously want to be here because I know that I still belong here and can do performances like I did last week [in Canada]. It's also up to me to make sure I can keep pulling it out, and in that case, then I'll be very happy to stay."