Marko explains why Mercedes and Ferrari are wrong for Ricciardo

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Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko says Daniel Ricciardo would be very wrong to move to Mercedes or Ferrari for 2019.

The Monaco Grand Prix winner, whose contract with Red Bull Racing runs out at the end of this year, is the subject of intense speculation regarding his future.

The Aussie's clean sweep last Sunday and the impressive manner in which it was achieved have boosted once again the driver's stock, a fact openly concede by team boss Christian Horner.

"You could say that [winning] made Daniel more expensive, it has put his value up, or it's put the team in a stronger position in terms of valuable potential to him," said Horner.

"The reality is finding a solution to conclude a deal with Daniel in the next couple of months. First thing is get the engine sorted and then very much follow on from there with [the] driver."

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While Mercedes has yet to conclude contracts with its own drivers for next season, the general perception is that Ricciardo has only a small chance of racing with the Silver Arrows squad in the near future, a fact expressed by Lewis Hamilton himself last weekend.

Ferrari on the other hand is a viable option, with Kimi Raikkonen expected to call it a day on his F1 career and Sebastian Vettel declaring himself open to a working relationship with Ricciardo, despite the Honey Badger out-performing the German at Red Bull in 2014.

Regardless of Ricciardo's multiple theoretical opportunities for the future, Marko believes the Milton Keynes outfit should remain home for the seven-time Grand Prix winner.

"For us, nothing changes," said the Austrian.

"We want to keep him and Daniel knows it. Why should he go to Mercedes or Ferrari? To be a number 2 driver?

"With us, Daniel has equal opportunities with the same equipment and no team orders. I think he knows that too," he added.

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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.