Daniel Ricciardo has been the target of multiple approaches from McLaren, who are willing to pay big money for the Australian in 2019, according to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
With the news this week that the Milton Keynes outfit will race with Honda engines next season, many are wondering how that announcement will impact the 28-year-old’s thinking about his future, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Some reports in Australia have claimed Ricciardo is now more eager to look elsewhere following the news, and now Marko, who is notorious for his bold claims, is looking to up the ante.
“Our Daniel Ricciardo is the king of the market. McLaren offers him more every week,” he told Germany’s Sport Bild.
One figure put on the British team’s valuation of the seven-time race winner is $20m a year but given McLaren’s current lack of competitiveness in the midfield, if true, it is unlikely money won’t be enough to tempt him.
What Marko’s claim also does is place further speculation over the future of Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard linked to IndyCar next year after securing the second leg of the Triple Crown at Le Mans last weekend.
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Interestingly, F1 journalist Will Buxton sees this as nothing more than a ploy on Red Bull’s part to try and call out Mercedes and Ferrari over the seriousness of their interest in Ricciardo.
And Marko admits there is another seat that remains unfilled for 2019 which the ‘Honey Badger’ is watching closely.
“Ricciardo doesn’t want to sign until [Lewis] Hamilton has signed,” he claimed. “It’s a bit strange. Hopefully it ends soon.”
