Daniel Ricciardo has underlined his desire to fi🎐nd a Formula 1 world title-contending car as part of his next contract in the sport as he assesses his optionꦺs after 2018 when his current deal with Red Bull ends.

The Australian drive🔜r has remained tightly inside the Red Bull fold since graduating to Formula 1 in 2011 but with his current deꦍal expiring at the end of next season he has the option to leave the team, with potential suitors Mercedes and Ferrari linked as options for the 28-year-old.

R✃icciardo accepts his next F1 deal will be key to his career as he moves from his junior years to potentially his prime and is eager𝓀 to find a team which can give him the tools to fight for the world title.

As a result, the Australian is keen to assess his options during 2018 before making a decision on his F1 future and says finding a team which can battle for world championships is a priority over any other condition having endured a frustrating fe🃏w years off the pace of the dominant Mercedes.

“Next year is a big one for me. They're all big, but there's a bit going on other than just the driving,” Ricciardo wrote on his Red Bull blog. “I know what I want, and the🥃 performance side is moꦚre important than ticking the money box, if you like.

“Having the chance to be able to fig♋ht for something really m✃eaningful – races, championships – that's the absolute priority.

“There's ab🀅solutely no rush, and things can ta🦩ke as long as they take – I'm not setting a deadline for anyone else's sake, or just to get it done for me. I'm not just going to settle on something because I want it to be off my mind, because there's a lot at stake. It's a big decision for me, so if I need to take time to make it, I will.”

Ricciardo has looked to Lewis Hamilton’s key switch to Mercedes in 2013 as an example of moving at the right time – despite the German manufacturer being off the front-running pace﷽ in his maiden year – and is aiming for a similar situation.

“You look at Lewis and when he did his Mercedes deal, he was the same age as I am now. He was already doing very well where he was but his career has really taken off s🦄ince then.

“I'm planning on being in the sport for a long while yet but if I was to sign a three-year deal that's a big chunk of the next part of my career. I need to get it right, so it's a big call – the most importantꦡ one for me yet.”

Earlier this year Red Bull secured a contract ♉extension with Max Verstappen to see the Dutch driver remain at the team until at least the end of the 2020 season.