Daniel Ricciardo says that remaining on the sidelines next season isn't his 'Plan A', but if a full-time drive in F1 doesn't materialize, the Aussie won't "freak out".
Ricciardo is currently Red Bull's third driver, embedding with the team at each race and conducting development work in the simulator.
The 34-year-old will have a chance to sample Red Bull's all-conquering RB19 at Silverstone next week as he has been assigned to a tyre test with the team, which will give the eight-time Grand Prix winner a chance to stretch his legs out on the racetrack.
However, the uncertain future surrounding AlphaTauri's Nyck de Vries could provide Ricciardo with an opening, although Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko has suggested that the energy drink company also has a selection of juniors to choose from should de Vries lose his drive.
Nevertheless, Ricciardo is keeping an open mind about returning to the grid with AlphaTauri.
"If it’s like ‘This is you and you are signing a three-year deal and that’s the only place you are going to be’, then no, that’s maybe not the deal I would look for," he told Crash.net.
“But if there’s the possibility to obviously be here [at Red Bull], the truth is this is where I want to be. I’m not going to weave my way around it. I’m remaining open-minded.
"I’d love to get back on the grid next year," he added. "If things don't turn out the way I’d like and I’m on the sidelines again next year... it’s not my Plan A but I wouldn’t freak out."
Ricciardo admitted that Nico Hulkenberg's return to active duty with Haas after a three-year hiatus – save for a handful of substitutions with Racing Point/Aston Martin during that time – has provided him with a dose of hope and motivation.
"I look at Hulkenberg, who's been on the sidelines a few years - obviously done the odd race here and there - but he’s been pretty awesome this year," Ricciardo noted. " So I’m not concerned that I’ll ‘lose it’.
"Obviously, I’m not getting younger though, so I don’t want to miss too much. Because I also don’t want to be [Fernando] Alonso and in my forties doing it."
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