Red Bull expect Ricciardo to stay
Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Daniel Ricciardo, out of contract for 2019, will re-commit to the team.
The Australian, touted for a move to either Ferrari or Mercedes, is also reported to have been offered a big-money move to McLaren.
“The key for me is does Daniel want to be in the team next year,” Horner told Sky Sports. “I get the impression that he very much wants to be.”
Pressed on whether Red Bull’s decision to switch to Honda may affect Ricciardo’s thinking, Horner stressed: “Daniel knows the reason behind this is to get ourselves in the best possible position and that’s in his interests as well. He knows the ambition of this team.”
Speaking to the media later, Horner added: “I would be surprised if he was to leave, because it’s a good fit between himself and Red Bull, but it is Formula 1.”
The possibility of Ricciardo moving to McLaren has been compared to the gamble Lewis Hamilton took five years ago when he left McLaren for Mercedes.
But Horner was dismissive of the idea the Australian would leave a race-winning seat for a team currently on the fringes of the top 10.
Sitting alongside Cyril Abiteboul of Renault and McLaren’s Eric Boullier, Horner commented: “Let’s not forget that he has been in a car that in the last couple of grands prix has been lapping the cars to our left. So it would be a fairly bold decision to step out of a car that he has won two grands prix in this year as a championship contender.”
Silverstone talks continue
Formula 1 are still in negotiations with Silverstone’s owners regarding an extension to their race contract and expect a deal to be thrashed out, according to commercial chief Sean Bratches.
Silverstone’s current contract expires after 2019 but, with the next race approaching, meetings are set for the BRDC, the iconic circuit’s owners, and F1 owners Liberty Media.
“We still continue to have productive conversations,” Bratches told Sky Sports News at a live event in Marseille. “We actually plan to meet John Grant [BRDC chairman] and his team next week in London.
“Silverstone is part of the foundation of this sport. We are a commercial business and we are going to do a deal that makes sense for us and hopefully there’s an opportunity there.
“We just renewed Spa on terms that work for both parties, and my suspicion is that we can do the same for Silverstone. That’s our intent, anyway.”
Silverstone is the final leg of F1’s first ever triple header this year, but Bratches added: “Our plan is not do this again.”
‘Dixon approached by McLaren’
Scott Dixon has been approached by McLaren with a view to joining their IndyCar team next season, according to RACER magazine.
The four-time IndyCar series winner is one of the most respected drivers in the sport, and at age 38, may be looking to end his career in style.
And RACER report that Dixon would be tempted by a McLaren affiliation, with the team founded by the great Bruce McLaren – a New Zealand compatriot.
McLaren are considering entering IndyCar next season and would be partnered with another outfit, with Fernando Alonso possibly making the switch as he looks to complete his Triple Crown with an Indy500 triumph.
Full story – external link
‘Red Bull will eye young talent’
Red Bull boss Christian Horner says the team would favour signing “young talent” – should Daniel Ricciardo leave at the end of the season.
“The Red Bull philosophy has always promoted young talent,” said Horner. “It’s been a proven path.”
Pierre Gasly would appear to be the leading candidate for the role from Toro Rosso – though Carlos Sainz is only on loan at Renault.
Are McLaren after Ricciardo?
There have been a number of reports linking McLaren with a big-money move for Daniel Ricciardo recently, and team boss Eric Boullier has admitted the team are interested in the in-form driver.
“We love Daniel,” Boullier said at the French GP. “I’ve personally known him for many years, and he’s doing a good job for Red Bull.
“As long as a driver of that calibre is on the market, obviously you look if there is any discussion possible.
“At this time of the year it’s still too early to talk about the line-up in the future, so it’s just a normal, gentle discussion.”
Does Hamilton feature on Aguilera track?
One of the more left-field rumours doing the rounds at the French GP is whether Lewis Hamilton, F1’s world champion, features on a track on American singer Christina Aguilera’s new album.
The credits for Pipe including reference to an unknown artist called XNDA, with some subsequently suggesting it is Hamilton.
Asked about it at Paul Ricard, Hamilton was staying tight-lipped: “Someone told me there was some speculation on that but that’s not something I really wish to visit right now.”
Ricciardo hopes to delay engine penalty further
Daniel Ricciardo is hopeful Red Bull can delay a grid penalty for the inevitable use of a third MGU-K until the German GP in three races’ time.
Ricciardo had been expected to take a penalty for exceeding power unit limits in Canada but Red Bull were able to use an older MGU-K without problem from earlier in the season. While that part will soon need to be replaced, Ricciardo is aiming to get to get through F1’s triple header without needing to change it and therefore delay a costly 10-place grid penalty.
“The later we leave it then the less chance we have of getting another one later in the year, so I’m happy to leave it as long as possible,” he said. “Hockenheim you can overtake there so it’s better than Austria. Silverstone I started at the back last year and could overtake, but I would say Hockenheim is possibly better for overtaking than the next few coming up. So if we have to take it that’s probably the best place.”
McLaren hit back at mutiny reports
McLaren have laughed off reports that their staff are on the verge of mutiny.
The Daily Mail had reported that team workers were ‘considering strike action after being rewarded for their hard work with a chocolate bar each.’
But in a hard-hitting response, McLaren boss Zak Brown said he didn’t recognise the negative depiction of his team and categorically ruled out a return for former team chief Martin Whitmarsh (Full story)
‘Ferrari ready to drop Raikkonen for Leclerc’
Have Ferrari decided to replace Kimi Raikkonen in 2019 with Sauber’s Charles Leclerc?
Autosport says the Scuderia are ‘ready’ to make the switch and that, although a final decision has not yet been made, the team are ‘leaning towards promoting Leclerc to a race seat’. (Full story – external site)
Last week in his Sky F1 column, Martin Brundle called on Ferrari to replace Raikkonen with Leclerc, writing ‘In my view Kimi has reached the end of the road… Charles Leclerc looks the real deal to me. He is out-performing his Sauber car just like Alonso and Webber did in a Minardi, like Senna did in a Toleman and Schumacher in a Jordan. He stands out a mile’ (Full column)
‘Ricciardo in McLaren talks’
The BBC have upped the ante in speculation – see previous posts – surrounding Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren by stating that the team ‘are in talks with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo about driving for them in Formula 1 next year’.
It’s also claimed ‘it is considered likely that their reserve driver Lando Norris will be promoted to F1 in 2019.’ Full story – external site.
Ricciardo himself has admitted he expects interest for McLaren, saying on Thursday: “I’ll be honest, everyone is talking about Mercedes and Ferrari for potential places for me to go, but I’m aware there’s probably going to be interest from other teams and I guess McLaren is probably one of them.”
Ricciardo swerves talk of big money McLaren offer
Hamilton checks out Paul Ricard
World champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted he was a bit naughty when he checked out the Paul Ricard circuit on Wednesday night.
“Last night I arrived here from Marseilles, I’ve got my motorbike here, so I rode it around the track, hoping that I wouldn’t get caught,” Hamilton told his media briefing. “Fortunately I didn’t…”
Ferrari the France favourites
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas says Ferrari are the team to beat in France.
“Ferrari are the favourites, based on what we saw in Montreal both in raw pace, in qualifying, and in the race,” said Bottas.
Ricciardo swerves McLaren talk
Daniel Ricciardo has dodged claims McLaren have made a $20m-a-year offer for his services, but admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if McLaren do officially join his list of suitors.
“I’ll be honest, everyone is talking about Mercedes and Ferrari for potential places for me to go, but I’m aware there’s probably going to be interest from other teams and I guess McLaren is probably one of them,” said Ricciardo. (Full story)
Alonso still not decided on 2019
Fresh from collecting the second leg of the ‘triple crown’ with his victory at Le Mans, Fernando Alonso say he still hasn’t decided if he will prioritise winning the final segment next year by moving full time to IndyCar in order to focus on the Indy 500.
“I haven’t thought too much yet about this,” said Alonso. “Achieving the triple crown is a very attractive target and the Le Mans victory puts that target a little bit closer but I will think and l will see what l do next year.”
McLaren bid big for Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo has been offered a deal by McLaren which would elevate the Australian into the ranks of the sport’s highest earners.
Or at least that’s what is being reported in the German media by Sports Bild.
The reputed offer is apparently worth around $20m a year.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is quoted as saying: “Our Daniel Ricciardo is the king of the market. McLaren offers him more every week.”
Ricciardo, a two-time winner already this season, is out of contract with Red Bull at the end of the season.
“Ricciardo doesn’t want to sign until Hamilton has signed,” Marko said. “It’s a bit strange. Hopefully it ends soon.”
McLaren hit back at Whitmarsh
McLaren have described recent criticism of the team from former boss Martin Whitmarsh as “ill-judged and ill-informed”. (Full story)
Renault shrug off Red Bull split
Renault have described their split from long-time engine customers Red Bull as a “happy situation” for all concerned. (Full story)
Take a tour of the Paul Ricard Circuit
2:27 Sky F1’s Paul Di Resta analyses a lap of the Paul Ricard Circuit ahead of the French GP’s return to the F1 calendar
Catch up with the F1 Report
28:01 Rachel Brookes is joined by Williams junior driver Oliver Rowland and F1 designer John Barnard to look ahead to the French GP and discuss the latest F1 news
Belgian GP to stay on calendar
One of F1’s most iconic events, the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps, will stay on the calendar until at least 2021 after signing a new hosting contract.
Spa’s deal had been due to expire at the end of this season but organisers have agreed new terms with F1 officials.
“This is a good deal which makes sure that such an important event stays in our region, thus placing us on a global visibility platform,” said Pierre Yves-Jeholet, the minister for the economy for the local Walloon region.
“The regional and national economic benefit is significant: in 2017 we had a return on investment of 315 per cent and ticket sales increased by 7.5 per cent. It is also a significant first for us as we have now concluded a successful and rewarding negotiation with Formula 1.”
So why have Red Bull split from Renault?
Red Bull are to split from Renault to join forces with Honda (Full story)
And the team have opened up on their decision…
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Sourse: skysports.com
