Ricciardo’s current contract expires at the end of the 2018 season and his potential availability has a number of the grid’s top teams interested.

The Australian is regarded as one of the best overtakers in F1 and his fifth-place finish in the Drivers’ Championship this year has come in spite of a string of mechanical retirements.

But the 29-year-old has refused to rush into any decision over his contract, citing Hamilton as the example he would like to follow.

“The next deal will take me into my 30s, so it's not like I'm the young unproven kid who'll sign anything just to get on the grid, or at the other end of my career when I'm hanging on and doing things year by year (I don't ever want to get to that stage, I can't see myself being that guy),” Ricciardo said.

“You look at Lewis and when he did his Mercedes deal, he was the same age as I am now if I remember correctly.

“He was already doing very well where he was, but his career has really taken off since then.

“So, there's a lot to consider.”

He added: “You can get caught up in too many opinions with this, so I'll use some people close to me as a sounding board and kick it around with some friends just to have the conversation, but I don't like to have too many people getting involved.

"It has to come from me, I'm the one who has to live it.

“I know what I want, and the performance side is more important than ticking the money box, if you like.

“Having the chance to be able to fight for something really meaningful – races, championships – that's the absolute priority. It's not even close.

“Being in the position to make the decision is something cool, something unusual, and something where I feel like I'll probably learn a lot.

“No matter what happens, it'll be a growing experience for me because it's something I've not been through.

“It'll be nice to stand on my own two feet and make some grown-up decisions. Maybe even act like an adult!”