Seb’s not afraid of a reunion

DANIEL RICCIARDO has added further intrigue to the driver market by insisting Sebastian Vettel would not stand in the way of him joining Ferrari.

Ricciardo has fast become the most in-demand man on the grid after he stamped his authority on the championship with a brilliant victory in China a fortnight ago.

The 28-year-old Australian, who also topped the times in practice for tomorrow’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, is prepared to end his decade-long relationship with Red Bull if the former manufacturers’ title winners cannot provide him with the machinery to fight for the drivers’ crown.

Both Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team are ready to pounce. Vettel tormented Mark Webber during their four years together at Red Bull en route to winning the title each season, but Ricciardo tore up the script when he replaced his compatriot, outperforming the German and finishing 71 points clear of him in the standings in 2014.

Vettel moved to Ferrari the following year, but Ricciardo believes the German would have no problems with a reunion. “I don’t think Seb is scared,” he said. “He is 100 per cent a competitor, and lives and breathes F1 more than a lot us.

“That competitor in him would love a chance for redemption.”

Hamilton’s slow start to the season continued yesterday when his best lap was only good enough for fifth, eight-tenths of a second adrift of Ricciardo.

He was again slower than his team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was one spot ahead.