After an eventful Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai at the weekend, Daniel Ricciardo was in great spirits having secured not only his first podium finish, but also his first win of the new Formula 1 season.

With the help of a tactical masterclass from his Red Bull team, Ricciardo propelled himself into pole position with a number of impressive overtakes, staying put for the remainder of the race.
The ever-smiling Australian stood proudly atop the podium, spraying champagne and looking on top of the world.

However, in an interview with the Australian current affairs show ‘The Project’, Ricciardo once again made sparks fly by commenting on his future.

The 28-year-old is out of contract with Red Bull at the end of the year, with speculation on who he could potentially sign for next season increasing.

There is, of course, the possibility he could extend his stay with Red Bull and he has told his current manufacturers that if he can keep winning in 2018, he will likely sign a new deal with them.

" I definitely want to be with the best car," he said, per Autosport.

"I think the weekend proved that if I've got the opportunity to win I can pull it off.

"I can handle that pressure and that intensity.

"If we can win a few more with Red Bull now then that looks very attractive. If not, then I guess there are probably other options.

“I said it from the start. The win helps, but if we were finishing sixth every race this year then that is not the most attractive option to me.”

After the Chinese GP, Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted that his team needed to replicate the performance of the car throughout the season to secure Ricciardo's future.

“I think Daniel's happy in the environment. If we can provide a car like we did [in China], why would he want to be anywhere else?”

Sunday's Grand Prix did show that although Red Bull do not appear able to offer Ricciardo his ideal working conditions, the nouse - both in the garage and the cockpit - can still provide the opportunities for victories and podiums.

And there is little doubt keeping Ricciardo from the claws of Mercedes and Ferrari would represent a major coup going into 2019.