Daniel Ricciardo must ensure he doesn't damage his relationship with Red Bull while considering his options for 2019, Lewis Hamilton has warned.

The Australian heads into the new Formula 1 season, which begins this weekend with his home race in Melbourne, with uncertainty hanging over his future at the team he joined in 2014.

A recent lack of competitiveness combined with an open admission of a desire to race alongside Hamilton means the 28-year-old is taking his time over deciding what his next career move will be, particularly with seats at Mercedes and Ferrari potentially up for grabs.

"An important thing really is to look at things that drivers have said in the past and try not to alienate the team that you're in," the world champion said Thursday's press conference at Albert Park.

"It's all good and well hoping at some stage to experience something new at another team, but there's a lot of people in our teams, and it's really important to keep them encouraged and focussed on you as a driver, to help you achieve your goal."

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And Hamilton, who is expected to sign a new two-year deal at Mercedes any day, does still think Ricciardo can attain his goal of becoming champion at Red Bull, perhaps as soon as this year.

"He's in a great place still, Red Bull I think this year can really have a fighting chance to win the championship," he claimed.

"An opinion of where you might want to go, if it's not where he currently is, may shift."