Marko, the head of Red Bull, has released a statement addressing the rumors surrounding Daniel Ricciardo’s potential move to Mercedes in Formula 1…

Marko, the chief advisor of Red Bull, has released a statement addressing the ongoing speculation surrounding Daniel Ricciardo’s potential move to Mercedes in Formula 1.

Marko firmly stated that Ricciardo is currently “not available” for any such switch, putting an end to the swirling rumors about the Australian driver’s future outside of the Red Bull setup.

Ricciardo, who rejoined the Formula 1 grid during the 2023 season with the AlphaTauri team (now known as Visa Cash App RB), was brought in to replace Nyck de Vries due to the latter’s underwhelming performances.

Ricciardo returned to the Formula 1 grid during the 2023 season, joining the AlphaTauri team after Nyck de Vries struggled to perform.

Since then, there have been rumors of him being promoted to a seat with the world champions. Sergio Perez’s contract is set to expire at the end of 2024, and the team is considering their driver lineup, including potential options with Mercedes.

The recent announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari in 2025 has created a frenzy in the driver market.

This means that a seat alongside George Russell will be available from 2025. Ricciardo is among the 14 drivers whose current contracts are also set to expire at the end of 2024. Hamilton’s move is expected to have a ripple effect throughout the F1 world, causing changes in various teams.

Is Ricciardo set to replace Hamilton? According to Marko, Ricciardo’s contract with the Red Bull ‘family’ extends beyond his current deal, which ends after the upcoming season.

Marko has made it clear that Ricciardo is an integral part of the team’s future plans, dismissing any possibility of him joining Mercedes. In fact, Marko stated that Ricciardo is not available for the vacant spot at Mercedes.