Ricciardo remains the priority for Red Bull

During the season, numerous rumors suggested a possible departure of Max Verstappen from Red Bull. The Austrian team then hurried to renew the Dutchman’s contract until the end of the 2020 season.

But his teammate Daniel Ricciardo’s contract will expire at the end of 2018. The Australian and his team do not seem in a hurry to start discussions: “We are just coming out of a long and difficult season, so the last thing we want to do is dive into the difficulties of contract negotiations,” explains Christian Horner, the team’s sporting director.

But if Ricciardo might have felt a little less desired than Verstappen following these late negotiations, Horner is keen to reassure his driver by expressing Red Bull’s desire to keep him long-term: « Later in the year, when we know the competitiveness of the car and everything is in place, then our priority will be to ensure that Daniel stays with us at least until 2020. »

Horner nevertheless expects complicated negotiations with his driver: « Daniel’s situation is very different today. He is his own agent. He is also reaching a pivotal point in his career. He is 28 years old, and the next step is going to be crucial for him. He wants to ensure that we can offer him a car that delivers all his potential. »

But in case the negotiations fail, Red Bull and Horner will not be caught off guard. The Austrian structure’s driver pipeline is well-stocked: “It’s always good to have different options. We have invested in a significant number of young drivers over the years and we have many talents in our program. We are certainly not short of options!” the Briton specifies.