Last month, McLaren chief executive Zak Brown claimed the team would be in a prime position to fight for the title in 2024.

Development of their own wind tunnel was announced in 2019, but construction was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ricciardo signed for McLaren last season on a three-year contract, keeping him at the Woking-based outfit until 2023.

The 32-year-old is optimistic McLaren can close the gap to F1 powerhouses Mercedes and Red Bull, but the process could take several seasons.

“I understand that the team is on a great trajectory, but now there are still a few hurdles in place that are probably going to stop us, let‘s say, fighting for a championship for the next year or two,” Ricciardo said.

“But it is a bit of a reality now that the wind tunnel is a pretty big piece of the puzzle. It might be the last piece of the puzzle for the team.

“I think me, looking at it now, I really look to just to try and keep building on where I am now over the next couple of years with McLaren, and then hopefully put myself in a prime spot for that ‘24 season.

“It sounds crazy to talk that far ahead. But yeah, sometimes you‘ve got to think like that.”

McLaren teammate Lando Norris is currently third on the drivers’ standings with 113 points and three podiums to his name.

However, Ricciardo has struggled to adjust to the team’s temperamental MCL35M, with reports the Aussie has issues with the car’s braking system.

“Don‘t get me wrong, I’m definitely trying. I want all the glory today! But I guess the experience tells me that it’s definitely a process,” he said.

“But I guess with the age and wisdom and probably maturity comes some more composure than say, when I was younger, expecting the world from everything and it wasn‘t happening.

“Then yeah, I probably would have thrown a few tantrums by now and lost it mentally so to speak.

“So that‘s where being here for a while now kinda helps take a breath, step back, go through it and understand that there’s a reason why things aren’t great right now. I need to find some answers as opposed to just throw my hands up and walk away from it all.”

Ricciardo has not won an F1 race since the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix when he was representing Red Bull alongside young gun Max Verstappen.

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The Perth driver admitted he has been forced to adapt his mentality to stay motivated.

“In a way you have to change a little bit. I don‘t know its mindset, goals, target, but you have to create different victories in your mind where a victory might not always be first place,” he said.

“Going back to last year a victory at Renault was getting that car onto the podium. I knew if I was able to do that would give me that satisfaction.

“So ultimately, yes, nothing beats winning and that‘s what I signed up for when I was young trying to do all this.

“I know you‘re only going to win if you’re in that top team or maybe those four cars a year. If you’re not, you’ve got to set other targets for yourself and keep your stock high, keep your motivation high.

“It‘s probably the only sport in the world that has such a low win percentage. Like … I’ll refer to a team sport – 50 per cent of the time you’re winning. Where F1, I dunno, my win ratio is probably like two per cent or something. It’s crazy. You find other ways to enjoy it I guess.”

The F1 season resumes next weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix, which is scheduled to commence on Sunday, August 29 at 11pm AEST.