Mark Webber says Daniel Ricciardo needs to perform throughout Red Bull's difficulties and then make a decision about his future next year.
Ricciardo won three races last season as he finished third in the drivers' championship, beating team-mate Sebastian Vettel in the process. Vettel moved to Ferrari at the end of 2014 and this year has been much tougher for Red Bull, with Ricciardo calling for change at the team.
Having also been linked with a move to Ferrari, Ricciardo doesn't believe he can move at the end of this season and Webber has urged his fellow Australian to deliver in an underperforming car to give himself options in a year's time.
"[Ricciardo] is going well," Webber told the Canberra Times. "He's in a bit of a tough situation this year with the car not performing that well so he's having a tougher season this year.
"He's sensational quality. He's got to weather the storm at the moment and do well and get himself in a better situation in the future and start getting those wins again and put a championship campaign together. The middle of next year, he's got some decisions to make."
Ricciardo is one of a number of names linked with Ferrari as a potential replacement for Kimi Raikkonen, with Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hulkenberg also in the frame.
Click here for a lighter look back at some scenes from the British Grand Prix
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
A familiar storyline may be about to unfold in Formula 1 – one where McLaren…
Momentum is building inside the Haas F1 Team, and much of it is surging from…
Legendary karting coach and talent scout Dino Chiesa has drawn striking parallels between Lewis Hamilton…
F1 world championship leader Kimi Antonelli made good use of his easter weekend to make…
Fresh uncertainty appears to be brewing inside Red Bull Racing, with reports suggesting one of…
Three races into Ferrari’s 2026 campaign, Lewis Hamilton looks rejuvenated – his voice steadier, his…