Daniel Ricciardo responds to 'bombshell' exit rumours

Daniel Ricciardo has crushed rumours he could be on the move to Ferrari for the next Formula One season.

The Aussie F1 star has been enduring a tough star to his career with Renault, after making the shock decision to leave Red Bull last year.

But with rumours Ferrari star and former teammate Sebastian Vettel could retire at the end of the season, despite having a year left to run on his contract, Ricciardo‘s name came up as a potential replacement.

Despite the prospect of rejoining a contender in Ferrari, rather than battle in the midfield with Renault, Ricciardo has moved to hose down the rumours.

“To be honest, I’ve been seeing articles like for the last three or four years consecutively,” Ricciardo told Auto Express.

“So it’s not new to me now. I have my contract, it’s a hard contract until the end of 2020, it was a two-year deal.

“So if Seb did walk away this year, then that’s his decision, but I wouldn’t be involved in that.”

Vettel reportedly unhappy at Ferrari

Vettel and Ricciardo are both contracted to their respective teams until the end of 2020, but a retirement and a bombshell contract clause could change that.

Auto Action also claims Ricciardo has a get-out clause in his deal with Renault should a seat at Ferrari or Mercedes become available.

After a shocker at the Bahrain Grand Prix recently, Vettel said his “contract is just a piece of paper”.

“I’m certain I really want to drive this year and next year, then I don’t know what happens to the regulations,” he told The Times.

“Nobody knows so far. I certainly can’t sit here and say, ‘No [I won’t leave]’ just for the sake of being in Formula 1.

“I love driving, I love the sensation of speed, and I love fighting these guys.

“There are a lot of things I like at the moment and things I would miss, so that is why it is not an option to quit tomorrow.

“But the contract is just a piece of paper. We will see what happens.”