Ricciardo not ruling out Ferrari move

The Australian Red Bull driver was the only non-Mercedes winner during the 2014 season, taking three victories in his first year with the team and overshadowing four-time world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel.

However, the lack of competitiveness from the Red Bull-Renault package has forced Ricciardo to endure a frustrating year, the Australian sitting seventh in the championship with a fifth place finish his best result.

The 25-year-old has three more years of his Red Bull contract left to run, but has been one of the men linked to the second Ferrari seat should the Italian squad decide to replace Kimi Raikkonen.

Ricciardo admits that his hunger for victory means nothing can be ruled out.

"First and foremost, not talking about contracts or anything, what I want is to win. A lot of my frustration this year is because of that," said Ricciardo at a Red Bull media event in Milton Keynes on Tuesday.

"We are not in a position to win and as a driver that is the only thing I want, at least in this point of my career when I am still young and hungry, and I feel I have still have a lot of potential in me. That is what I want.

"Obviously with contracts this and that, it is not as easy as saying 'yeah I will go to Ferrari and that is that.' There are things in place, and right now it would be, from my understanding of contracts, it is not likely that I can get out.

"But at the same time, I really feel that Red Bull can make a change for next year and can get back up the front. I still think we have good people in the team.

"I think we still have the ingredients to do it, it is just making that next step – it has to be the right step and I think we can get back up there.

"Going back on the Ferrari thing; it is nice to be recognised by a team like that so I will take it a compliment and see what happens."

When asked if he could rule out a move to Ferrari, he said: "It is a tough one. I will probably never rule anything out completely, because I don't have experience with contracts. I haven't been in F1 all that long.

"I am sure things can change; anything can change. Dietrich said some things in the press as well, and you never know what is going to happen. As I said, it is unlikely but yeah."

Engine progress key to future

The Australian driver conceded seeing progress from Renault would be a factor in deciding his future, claiming the French manufacturer is back to its 2014 level.

"I think we have to at least see some evidence or proof that we are going to close the gap next year," he said. "And Renault is willing to do that and we need that commitment from them.

"It is a more a part for Christian [Horner] and the guys at the top to deal with, but obviously as a driver behind the wheel we need to see that.

"I think Red Bull deserves that, they are a team that have the ingredients to win and they deserve to have a package to do it. I think we need to see that from them to move forward."