DANIEL RICCIARDO’S FUTURE
Ricciardo’s contract with Red Bull runs out at the end of the year. His name has been associated with Ferrari as a replacement for Kimi Räikkönen and Mercedes to replace Valtteri Bottas, or to step in if Lewis Hamilton fails to sign his new contract for 2019 and beyond. The word at the end of June was that Ferrari was not particularly enamoured with the Australian’s jokey style and, in any case, he gave Sebastian Vettel a very hard time in 2014 when they were together at Red Bull. Mercedes seems happy with Bottas, who has proved a solid and reliable de facto number two, capable of winning. And if Hamilton suddenly quits? Mercedes thinks the seat is so desirable drivers will tear up existing contracts and do everything to make the move. Which leaves Ricciardo, approaching the peak of his career at 28 and wanting to win next year, with little choice but to hope Honda comes good sooner rather than later.