Daniel Ricciardo has flat-out denied reports that he's in active talks with Ferrari about moving to Maranello next season.
The Australian's current contract with Red Bull Racing expires at the end of this season.
Recent rumours have suggested Ricciardo has an exclusive pre-agreement with Ferrari ensuring that he will talk only with them until the end of June. But the 28-year-old has said that this is categorically not the case.
"That’s not true, I can say that," he insisted on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
"I've only had talks with Red Bull," he continued. "I am aware of other reports, but there hasn't been anything else. They are not true. At least not up until now. Certainly not."
His team mate Max Verstappen has already completed a contract extension at Red Bull until 2020. However Ricciardo said he wanted to wait until the start of the European phase of the current season before talking terms.
"Even already last year we have been pretty open with each other," he told reporters in Baku. "And through the media as well they say they are interested in keeping me. We have had some talks regarding this."
Now it looks like talks will continue over the summer, and that a final decision might not be made before the August shutdown.
"For sure, the summer seems fine," Ricciardo said. "I guess I don't really fear not having a seat next year. So I don't feel I need to sign something tomorrow or I have nothing.
"I feel I can wait until the summer," he insisted. "I don't feel I need to push anything until then."
One thing that might deter Ricciardo from seeking a seat at Ferrari alongside Sebastian Vettel is the current status of Kimi Raikkonen.
Raikkonen finished on the podium in the Chinese Grand Prix, but many fans felt his race was sacrificed to help Vettel win. In the end, a safety car and a clash with Verstappen meant Vettel finished in eighth place.
Ricciardo himself went on to win in Shanghai, so the idea that he would ever play second fiddle to Vettel again wasn't sitting well with Ricciardo.
"I wouldn't want to go somewhere where I didn't feel I had a chance," he said. "These are certainly things I would, wherever I may be or go, I would always make sure there was some clarity."
"At the moment what I am chasing, to try to be world champion, it is my goal and dream and something I really believe I am capable of.
Ricciardo added that staying put at Red Bull could still prove the better option, and that he wasn't about to make a change for change's sake.
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