Daniel Ricciardo 'will answer' F1 calls but remains focused in final Renault year
Aussie F1 favourite Daniel Ricciardo has unwittingly fanned speculation over a possible future with Ferrari while insisting he is fully committed to putting his best foot forward in his final year with Renault.
As the F1 season rapidly approaches, Ricciardo is struggling to shake whispers over possible move to the Prancing Horse after stating he would be "answering all calls" over his future earlier this month.
With a host of F1 talent off contract at the end of the 2020 season, the Aussie has found himself the key chip in a chain of high-profile movement around the sport.
Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both come off contract at Mercedes at the end of the season but it's Sebastian Vettel's impending departure from Ferrari that has set tongues wagging.
Daniel Ricciardo Getty
His reputation as one of F1's premier overtakers makes Ricciardo a prized prospect for the Italian racing outfit who will be eager to lockdown a battle-tested driver to bunker in alongside Charles Leclerc.
As F1 enters its second week of testing for the year, Ricciardo was asked about the rumours of a move to Ferrari, while sat next to Renault executive director Marcin Budkowski.
"I will answer calls for sure, but most importantly I want this to work," Ricciardo said.
"I don't want it to feel like I've just come to Renault and just got away from Red Bull, and then I'm looking for the next best thing. I really want to make this happen and make it work.
Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS19 leads Romain Grosjean of France driving the (8) Haas F1 Team VF-19 Ferrari on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil Getty
"Obviously the step to that is getting more out of this year than we did last year and hopefully getting enough out of it, that the journey continues beyond my two-year contract. That's the ideal scenario.
"To talk about other what-ifs and future here and there, it's still too early. You don't want to rock the boat obviously as well, but we haven't even started this year. I can't think about it yet."
Despite the answer, iNEWS journalist James Gray tweeted that he wasn't convinced Ricciardo would stick with Renault if offered a shot Mercedes or Ferrari.
It was a disappointing 2019 Ricciardo who finished ninth amid his highly publicised departure from Red Bull to Renault.
It marked the first season he completed with no podiums since 2013.
