Christian Horner, Red Bull team boss, had deliberately expressed that mutual interest between the team and Daniel Ricciardo exists to extend their understanding beyond this season.
The Australian is out of arrangements with his team at the end of this season. He had been reportedly linked to Mercedes and Ferrari. However, he had been in contact with McLaren and Renault for a possible switch from Red Bull.
But Horner informed that major title contender teams had not engaged Ricciardo for a possible position.
Horner said, “We’ve now got to the point where there is a desire from both sides to continue the relationship.
“So it’s just a matter of now really going through the detail and coming to a conclusion which will certainly be done prior to the summer break.”
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari lead driver, has arrangements with the team before 2020 expires. However, his team mate Kimi Raikkonen contract with the team is expiring at the end of this season. The team, as reported, is expected to take Charles Leclerc on board as replacement for Raikkonen in 2019.
Moreover, Mercedes arrangements with its drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas is expiring at the end of this season. But both drivers have expressed their commitment to continue and are expected to sign new contracts with their team.
Horner said: “I think that had Mercedes put a serious offer on the table, or an offer, he [Ricciardo] would have been potentially interested.
“He’s impatient to try and challenge for a world title so I think he would have had his head turned in the event of a Mercedes or a Ferrari offer but I think those two teams look pretty set where they are.”
Ricciardo angling for significant pay rise
Daniel Ricciardo’s team mate Max Verstappen was awarded a promising deal to renew his contract with Red Bull.
The new contract with Red Bull made Verstappen one of the highly paid drivers in F1. He ranked third on the best paid drivers, succeeding Hamilton and Vettel. He ranked above Fernando Alonso, who is drawing $25m in salary.
Ricciardo performance has beenbetter than his team mate. He is believed to be targeting better monetary deal with Red Bull.
Responding to a question about whether both drivers will enjoy the same monetary status, Horner said they have their own place and value at Red Bull.
