Mercedes should not get excited about signing up Daniel Ricciardo. That is the warning of Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, as the international press gets excited about the future of the out-of-contract Australian Ricciardo.
"Ferrari, take Ricciardo," Luca Budel, writing for Italy's Mediaset, said. "While Max is the potential phenomenon, it is Ricciardo who wins the races," he added. "The boy deserves Ferrari's attention."
Alberto Sabbatini, writing for Autosprint, agreed: "Ferrari should take Ricciardo. Red Bull is paying more attention to the evolution of the Honda engine while keeping in the fridge a great driver like the Australian," he said.
Ferrari may not be an option, though, as Globo's Livio Oricchio points out. "Sergio Marchionne knows that hiring Ricciardo would imply a change in the driver hierarchy at Ferrari," he said.
Mercedes may therefore be a better option for Ricciardo, with Lewis Hamilton playing hardball over his contract and Valtteri Bottas also signed up only until late 2018. "Niki Lauda may come back, so we can have a third option," Wolff joked to Finland's Turun Sanomat. "No, Ricciardo is one of the good drivers, as we saw again," he added.
Bild journalist Lennart Wermke commented: "If Ricciardo continues as he did in China, he can almost choose his cockpit."
But Red Bull's Marko warned Mercedes boss Toto Wolff not to get too excited about signing Ricciardo. "Herr Wolff already fell on his face with Max Verstappen, and he'll fall on his face again," he said. (GMM)
He won't. And for the same reason he won't go to Renault, even being a works outfit now.
And Alonso's involuntary teachings tell him not to stick around for Honda success.
So it's Ferrari (if he hasn't signed already to replace Kimi, who was quite sure of not having a drive any more by 2021), or Mercedes.
I wish we have F1 rankings for "hot property" at the end of each race. BTW, we can say "You are only as good as your last <INSERT YOUR TRADE>" about anything on this planet.
"Herr Wolff already fell on his face with Max Verstappen, and he'll fall on his face again," ... I think Verstappen is only one who would like to go back in time and sign for Mercedes
Now I almost want Ricciardo to leave so Helmut looks stupid. How I despise that old foul-mouthed bastard. But in all honesty, I think that other than Helmut and his wrongheadedness, Red Bull is the idea place for Daniel. He fits the Red Bull brand so well. I think it would work fine with Mercedes too, but not Ferrari. I remember Ferrari management mocking him when they were fooling around in the rain with Kvyat (I think..), they said something to the effect that they employ drivers not clowns. I would be a tragic loss for F1 if Daniel's personality got suppressed under some stupid tight-ass corporate culture.
This may be one of the longest silly seasons on record since it's particularly unclear (at present) whether Ferrari or Mercedes will offer the best car next year. DR hold nearly all the cards so he can afford to leave a decision for a long time (particularly if he goes on driving as he did last Sunday).
The reigning world champion and the hottest driver who has yet to win himself a championship are both without a contract by the end of the season and are showing no signs of committing.
That's why silly season is on.
Martin Brundle predicted this last September already except then, Max Verstappen being a free agent as well was keeping the market locked up ... and then he signed.
As long as Hamilton, Bottas, Ricciardo and Räikkönen aren't signed up for next year or replaced, silly season will be on ...
I still like Helmut Marko for putting Max Verstappen in an F1 race seat.
Even if you don't like Verstappen's antics, it has spiced things up and for that we can thank him.
True, I like the drivers Marko has gotten into F1, but that doesnt mean I need to like the dude. Apart from his sane day of the month, I generally like him less by the day.
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