Daniel Ricciardo says he won’t be too disappointed if he doesn’t manage to secure a drive for the 2011 season, but admitted 2012 is a must.
The Australian impressed earlier this week as he topped the time-sheets on both days of the young driver test.
With Red Bull certain to keep their current line-up of world champion Sebastian Vettel and third-placed Mark Webber, and Toro Rosso more than likely to retain Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, Ricciardo’s options are limited.
“It would be wrong of me to be too disappointed if I don’t make the grid next year because I’m only 21,” he told Perth Now.
“Not too many people enter F1 at my age, so I’m not in that much of a rush to get there. I think I’ve achieved more or less enough to maybe earn a spot, but if it doesn’t happen next year then I definitely feel the following year will be the one.”
With the line-up decided at both Red Bull teams, Ricciardo admitted a switch to another team could be a possibility.
“It’s pretty hard to plan ahead in this business, but I’m sure Red Bull will figure something out if all the spots are full,” he added.
“They’ve got rights to pass me on to someone else, but two years is a long time away and if I just keep going the way I am, then I’m sure there’s no reason why Red Bull can’t find something for me.”
