Vettel open to welcoming Ricciardo as teammate again
Sebastian Vettel has welcomed the possibility of having Daniel Ricciardo as his teammate again in the future in Formula 1.
The pair were teammates during Ricciardo’s first year at Red Bull having stepped up from Toro Rosso as Mark Webber’s replacement in 2014 and the Australian outperformed his four-time F1 world champion teammate by taking three victories compared to Vettel’s winless campaign.
Sebastian Vettel has welcomed the possibility of having Daniel Ricciardo as his teammate again in the future in Formula 1.
The pair were teammates during Ricciardo’s first year at Red Bull having stepped up from Toro Rosso as Mark Webber’s replacement in 2014 and the Australian outperformed his four-time F1 world champion teammate by taking three victories compared to Vettel’s winless campaign.
Vettel left for Ferrari at the end of 2014 with a turbulent relationship thought to have ended between the German driver and Ricciardo but he feels things have improved over the following years.
Ricciardo’s Red Bull contract expires at the end of this year and the 28-year-old has made no secret that it is a pivotal time in his F1 career as he looks for a title-contending package with his next deal. The five-time F1 race winner has duly been linked to potential moves to both Mercedes and Ferrari if he feels Red Bull cannot become consistent title fighters this year.
Asked about the prospect of having Ricciardo as a teammate again, Vettel says he welcome it in the future but insists he has no say on his Ferrari teammate. Vettel recently re-signed for Ferrari to keep him at the team until at least the end of the 2020 season.
“We only shared one year together, I knew him before that and we had one year together which wasn’t great for me, it was great for him,” Vettel said. “I think we get along so I wouldn’t mind if we get together again in the future but I don’t know what his plan.
“I think he has a couple of options and I don’t think he needs to rush. I’m sure he’ll find a seat but I don’t know what he’s up to or what he wants. I don’t know how much he’s asking but I’m confident he’ll find a seat.”
With Vettel signed up at Ferrari plus Max Verstappen also inking a fresh Red Bull deal, Lewis Hamilton is reportedly set to sign an bumper £120m three-year contract extension with Mercedes.
The futures of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen at Mercedes and Ferrari respectively look uncertain with both Finnish drivers set to see their current contracts expire at the end of 2018.
