“I still love the sport and I think through all of this adversity I haven’t lost that confidence in myself,” Ricciardo added.
“For sure we’ve had some tough weekends and you can’t help but show emotion sometimes but I still love it and want to do it competitively.
“I want to do it in the right place, I’ve never said I want to just be a driver to make up the numbers, if I’m here I want to be here for a purpose.
“So I don’t know what that means yet for the future but of course, if it’s the right opportunity then this is where I want to be.”
Ricciardo spoke about the effort he put in to make his time at McLaren successful but admitted that “some things are just not meant to be.”
Despite his struggles, he remains one of the most respected drivers on the grid with Lewis Hamilton saying Ricciardo deserves to be in F1.
Sebastian Vettel, who was once team-mates with Ricciardo, then added to that saying whatever happens for the Australian, it will work itself out in the end.
Ricciardo beat Vettel in the 2014 championship when they were together at Red Bull
“I think he’s still one of the best drivers,” said the four-time world champion, who will retire from F1 at the end of this season.
“I had the pleasure to race against him and the not so pleasurable side of getting beaten by him years ago and I still think he has very, very much to offer.
“I wish him obviously all the best and I’m sure that, ultimately, the talent he has and the qualities he has will shine through.”