In a recent revelation, Daniel Ricciardo disclosed that he had discussions with Ferrari regarding a potential move to the team in the past. However, he clarified that the possibility of the switch was never very likely. The Australian driver entered the 2018 season with his contract expiring and was highly sought after in the driver market due to his impressive performances with Red Bull. Despite this, Ricciardo surprised many by choosing to join Renault instead, as it became apparent that Ferrari was planning to promote their academy graduate Charles Leclerc to replace Kimi Raikkonen. Ricciardo was once again considered for a Ferrari seat when it was announced that Sebastian Vettel would not be extending his contract with the Italian team beyond 2020. However, it was Carlos Sainz who was ultimately chosen to partner Leclerc, while Ricciardo moved on to McLaren. Although there were initial discussions about Ricciardo driving for Ferrari, more advanced negotiations never materialized. The talks never reached a stage where a contract was presented for Ricciardo to consider signing. While there were some conversations, they did not progress beyond the initial level. Despite this, Ricciardo acknowledged that he was always keeping an eye on Ferrari as they were a top team at the time.
Ricciardo’s connection with the country that hosts Ferrari has been extensively documented, as his father was born there before moving to Australia. However, the 34-year-old asserts that he disregarded the emotional aspect of his cultural ties when making his decision about his future, emphasizing that performance was his primary consideration. “I never solely focused on the idea of becoming a Ferrari driver one day,” Ricciardo explained. “I had a more straightforward approach, thinking that if it works out and the timing is right, maybe it could happen. But I didn’t invest all my hopes in it.” He further added, “Ultimately, it’s a highly esteemed racing team, but it’s just like any other team. I try not to give too much importance to all the other factors that come with it.”
In the upcoming season, Ricciardo will be competing for an Italian-based team as he drives for Red Bull’s rebranded second entry, RB, which was previously known as Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri. The eight-time F1 winner has publicly stated that his main goal is to return to the senior Red Bull team, putting Sergio Perez under significant pressure to retain his seat. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed that Ricciardo has a long-term contract with the Austrian company, ruling him out as a candidate for the vacant position at Mercedes.
According to the Source motorsportweek.com