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Horner sets deadline for Ricciardo decision!

10:32, 24 Apr 2018

bySam Bytheway

With Daniel Ricciardo's future rife with speculation, the Australian's team boss at Red Bull, Christian Horner, wants his future settled as soon as possible.

Red Bull are keen to keep the Honey Badger in the car, but insists the Milton Keynes based team want the matter sorted.

"There should be a decision by the summer break at the latest. We do not want to wait forever,” Horner said.

"We have other good options. Our priority is to continue working with Daniel, but if that doesn't work out, we'll look to those other options.

"The most obvious is Carlos Sainz. He is under contract to us.

"And then we have a few young drivers."

Ricciardo is rumoured to have signed a pre-contract agreement with Ferrari, by which both parties are locked into an exclusive negotiating period until the end of June.

Motorsport Magazine and Sky Sports F1 Analyst, Mark Hughes believes the speculation holds some substance, saying:

“There are many different types of contractual options, but this one is said to be on both sides up to a defined date.

"Up until that time, neither party can officially negotiate with another,

“Because the driver is effectively locking himself out of the market for that time, discussions for his post-2018 services are contractually ‘owned’ by the team

“As such, he will be paid a fee. Between now and then he and Ferrari can negotiate about a future contract. This is all conventional F1 practice."

Hughes concluded that with some people at Red Bull adamant Ricciardo has signed something, it must be Ferrari, saying:

“Those privy to such matters at Red Bull are adamant that he has definitely signed something, somewhere but it’s not with them and it’s not with Mercedes. Logically, therefore, it must be Ferrari.”