'I would not turn down a Ferrari offer,' says Ricciardo

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Daniel Ricciardo has been earmarked by Ferrari as a potential replacement for Kimi Raikkonen, and the Red Bull driver says that if a firm offer was one day on the table, he would not turn it down.

Speculation regarding the future of Kimi Raikkonen in Grand Prix racing has grown recently, with Ferrari unsure whether to sign the Finn for a fourth, and probably last, season, or part ways with his services at the end of this year.

In any case, it is understood that Ricciardo is currently at the top of the Scuderia's short list of possible drivers expected to succeed Raikkonen.

The 26-year-old Australian's contract with Red Bull expires at the end of 2017 which means chances of a transfer from Milton Keynes to Maranello in the near term are remote for Ricciardo.

"I understand if they were to make a change I'm a driver on their list," Ricciardo told Autosport.

"They haven't made anything clear to me. There haven't been any calls saying 'we're going to get rid of Kimi, we want you, can you do it with your contract?' this or that.

"But other than what's been said in the media there's been nothing else, honestly."

One man at Ferrari who may just have a say in the team's future driver lineup is Ricciardo's former team mate at Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel.

The German endured a difficult time in his last season alongside Mark Webber at Red Bull, and then had to contend with Ricciardo beating him in the championship standings in 2014.

But the Aussie says he would have no reservations should he one day be paired again with Vettel.

"With his relationship with Mark before I got there, I was ... cautious, with my approach with him as a team-mate. But he was solid and we actually got on well and obviously the season went better for me than it did for him.

"He never really made excuses and if I beat him he shook my hand like a man and said "good race", so he was a good team-mate. I like him, he's a strong guy ... I wouldn't turn it down.

"Otherwise, if it's just to have a [different] team-mate, I would rather try against a Lewis [Hamilton] or Fernando [Alonso] or something different.

"He is quick and I would expect if we were to be team-mates again one day I'm sure he would put up a fight and it would be a good rivalry."

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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.