Vettel opens the door of the House of Maranello to Ricciardo!

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Sebastian Vettel says he would gladly reunite with former team mate Daniel Ricciardo at Ferrari if such an opportunity ever arose.

Ricciardo is on the verge of an all important season which, by his own admission, could make or break his future in F1.

The Aussie will start weighing his options for 2019 when the season kicks off this weekend, mulling the prospect of remaining at Red Bull Racing if the team performs according to his expectations, or moving on to different - and hopefully greener - pastures.

Regardless of the choices which await Ricciardo, his former team mate Sebastian Vettel insist he would have no problems on welcoming his former team mate at the Scuderia.

Hamilton urges Ricciardo not to 'rock the boat' during contract talks

"We had one year together which wasn’t great for me, it was great for him," remembers Seb.

"But anyway, I think we get along so I wouldn’t mind if we get together again in the future but I don’t know what is his plan…

"I think he has a couple of options and I don’t think he needs to rush."

Few pundits believe however that a Vettel-Ricciardo reunion at the red squad will come to pass, as it would likely complicate Ferrari's state of affairs on the driver front.

Vettel currently feels comfortable with Kimi Raikkonen at his side for one last season, and would likely prefer to serve as the master to a talented pupil such as Charles Leclerc rather than endure an intra-team fierce rivalry with a man - Ricciardo - whose burning ambition is to win the world championship.

Vettel may have opened the door to the Honey Badger, but he could just as well slam it in his face on a whim.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.