'Regulations moving to 2022 won't affect F1 free agent market'

The vast majority of the grid had their deals tactically run out at the end of 2020, right before the major overhaul in regulations was set to take force. This would've allowed drivers the freedom to move to whatever team they think will make a leap forward in the new regulations, like Mercedes did in 2014.

Now, the technical regulation changes will move to 2022. Ricciardo, who is one of the drivers who will have a big decision to make in the coming months, doesn't think this will make a big change.

"Everything's messed up right now and it's hard to say, but my best guess is that people will make the decisions they want to irrespective of how things have changed," the Aussie told The Age.

"I find it hard to believe that anyone would sign a one-year deal just to be a free agent for '22 because of the risks involved. Unless you're in a unique situation, one year is normally far from ideal, so I imagine any contracts signed from now will carry over from the old regs to the new regs now coming on for '22.

"It does make it interesting when you consider most of us aren't contracted after this year besides Max [Verstappen] and Charles [Leclerc]."

Besides Leclerc and Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon are the only driver with multiple years left on their deals.

"So much is up in the air right now that anything seems possible."

Ricciardo staying at Renault is definitely not a formality. The French works team will have to show the seven-time Grand Prix winner signs of improvement or he will likely look elsewhere as he continues his quest to become a champion.