Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that while he may not “dream” of driving for Ferrari like some racing drivers, he wouldn’t turn down the Scuderia should an opportunity arose that made sense.
The Australian is arguably the hottest commodity in the driver market currently as his contract with Red Bull expires at the end of 2018, but among the top three teams, he is not the only free agent after next season with Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas also only signed to single year deals at Ferrari and Mercedes respectively.
After four unfulfilling seasons with the Milton Keynes outfit, with only five wins in that time, as well as the growing presence of teammate Max Verstappen leading to questions over Ricciardo’s status at Red Bull, it’s unsurprising then the 28-year-old is pondering a move away.
However, when it comes to seriously making that decision, he insists there won’t be any kind of emotional tie drawing him to Maranello as he has only one goal in mind.
“If I say it’s not, it will seem that I am not interested, but the word dream is a bit heavy,” Ricciardo said when considering the prospect. “My dream is to win the world championship in the best car, so I don’t know what else to say.”
A move would likely see him team up with former partner Sebastian Vettel but that fact alone may be a key reason why Ferrari may not go for him for 2019.
“I’m not sure he’d take me,” Daniel claimed of the German. “I don’t know if he has the power to tell the team who he wants, but I’m not going to think about that. All I have to do is keep driving at this high level and that’s what will determine my destiny.”
While the talk of alternatives is fun, his current employer Red Bull remains eager to see Ricciardo sign the same commitment to 2020 as Verstappen did before the United States Grand Prix.
“That’s very nice of them,” he told Brazil’s Globo in response. “They want to keep myself and Max in the team, but I’m not in a hurry. I have a lot of respect for Red Bull but I still have time to analyse everything.”
