Lauda: "We haven't offered Ricciardo anything"
Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
It's been clear for months now that Daniel Ricciardo will be looking at his options before potentially re-signing with Red Bull, but Niki Lauda has said that Mercedes haven't offered the Aussie anything.
Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton still hasn't signed his extension either, but it's been said for months that that is just a question of time. Ricciardo has been said to either sign at Mercedes or Ferrari is he should opt to leave his current team, Red Bull.
"We currently aren't in talks [with Hamilton] and we have no rush to do so either," Lauda said.
"I'm more than 100% sure that Lewis will re-sign at us, and he won't regret it."
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko was on the scene as well, as both he and Lauda were present when MotoGP champion Marc Marquez drove around in the RB8.
"Mercedes has been busy resigning Hamilton since December," Marko said.
"I hope that they'll get it done soon because as long as Lewis doesn't sign, Daniel [Ricciardo] isn't signing with us either."
Lauda disagreed with his colleague.
"Ricciardo is blackmailing you by not signing," the Austrian said.
"What Lewis gets, no one else can get.
"Besides, we haven't offered anything to Ricciardo either."