As his options fall away, Ricciardo expects to remain a bull

With his "two most attractive" alternatives falling away, Daniel Ricciardo is now pinned in a corner at Red Bull where the Aussie will likely remain for 2019.

Recently, the doors slowly began to shut at both Mercedes and Ferrari, the two teams where Ricciardo had at one point ambitioned to race next year.

"It’s obviously looking more likely I’ll probably remain, but there still hasn’t been any pen to paper", said Ricciardo.

"[I’m] still trying to get a few last things sorted.

"Not every door is closed, but it's looking more and more likely that the other top teams will probably remain with their line-up.

• Ricciardo surprised by Ferrari's 'lack of interest'

"I don't have the facts on that, but you kind of just read between the lines and you feel that's probably going to remain.

"Obviously if it wasn't Red Bull, [Ferrari and Mercedes are] the two most attractive options.

"If they're not possible, then for me now it's hard to be convinced that another option is better than Red Bull.

"I’m making sure that I'm right with my judgments."

As rumors swelled that both McLaren and Renault were interested in the Honey Badger's services, the seven-time Grand Prix winner admitted there was some appeal to switching to a second-tier outfit.

"The thought of that, it has some appeal. I wouldn't say it's probably top of my list right now, but I wouldn't dismiss it, also," he said.

"Obviously McLaren and Renault aren't there today, but maybe they will be there in a year or three years' time."

Unfortunately for them, Ricciardo won't wait that long…

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