Daniel Ricciardo, Ferrari Rumors, McLaren, F1 News

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed how close he has come to the F1 powerhouse Ferrari.

The Australian, who has long been considered one of the best drivers in the field, left Red Bull at the end of 2018 and has now opened his talks with Ferrari.

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Ricciardo won seven Grand Prix during his time at Red Bull, but by his own account fought there with the rising star Max Verstappen in his later years.

As his relationship with Red Bull deteriorated, Ricciardo put out feelers to see what other teams would be interested in picking him up.

The 32-year-old finally signed with the French team Renault, but has now opened his talks with Ferrari.

Ricciardo has been associated with Ferrari on several occasions, including when he left Red Bull and more recently decided to leave Renault before eventually choosing McLaren.

“A while ago, yes,” Ricciardo told the Italian edition of Motorsport when asked if he had spoken to Ferrari about the possibility of joining Scuderia in the past.

“But we never sat around a desk with papers to sign, nothing like that.

“There was a bit of small talk, some quick conversations, but we never got to the point where we were talking about contracts.

“Well, there was something, but we never got to a second step.”

Ricciardo said he was seriously considering joining Ferrari in 2018 when four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel was battling for the drivers’ championship alongside Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton.

“In my mind it was one of the options, especially if the team was fighting for the championship while Seb was there, the team was in a good position,” said Ricciardo.

“So Ferrari and Mercedes were the first two teams to be rated outside of Red Bull, they were the only really desirable teams, but I always tried not to be too influenced by emotions because I knew my Italian origins.

Ricciardo said he idolized Ferrari as a kid and always dreamed of driving for them, but the stars never adjusted for such a move to happen.

“I have some photos of myself as a kid wearing a Ferrari T-shirt, obviously a gift from my father,” he said.

“You are a fantastic team, I respect you very much, if the mutual needs were intertwined, it would have been nice.

“But I also have to say that one day it was my dream to become a Formula 1 driver and I’m still very happy with what I have achieved. and to be where I am today. “

A move to the Italian giants seemed the most likely for Ricciardo at the end of last season, but they decided to recruit Carlos Sainz instead, whose McLaren seat was occupied by Ricciardo.

Ricciardo is currently ninth overall in the drivers’ standings and will return to the track after the Formula 1 summer break at the Belgian Grand Prix on August 29th.