Report: Ricciardo's $50million contract demands

Daniel Ricciardo will demand $50million over two years to move to Ferrari or Mercedes, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Red Bull driver's future has been one of the hottest topics in the 2018 Formula 1 season as his contract expires at the end of the year.

Ricciardo reportedly earns $6m a year on his current Red Bull deal, but he is set for an enormous pay-rise after four impressive seasons with Red Bull.

Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen's contract that runs until 2020 is reportedly worth $10m a year.

Ricciardo is unwilling to commit his future to F1 into 2021 due to uncertainty over Liberty Media's planned raft of regulation changes.

World champion Lewis Hamilton has also spoken of his doubt over his long-term commitment to the sport.

Hamilton's contract also expires at the end of 2018. Mercedes have reportedly tabled a $55million-per-year deal to keep him at the Brackley squad.

Ricciardo won the Chinese Grand Prix last time out and has said he is willing to remain with Red Bull if they can provide a car capable of routinely challenging Mercedes and Ferrari for race wins.

However, a report in Motor Sport Magazine claims that the Australian has already set his heart on a switch to Maranello, where Kimi Raikkonen's seat is likely to be available.

Motor Sport Magazine's Mark Hughes claims a reunion with former Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel is on the cards for Ricciardo.

Hughes writes: "His stock is super-high at the moment and now is the perfect time for him to be pressing that home in his negotiations.

"If it happens, it offers the watching world a fascinating chance to see Vettel-Ricciardo II, the re-match. First time around, Ricciardo arrived in the quadruple world champion's team and out-performed him.

"Not overwhelmingly, but convincingly. Was that just a trait of that particular car? Of Vettel's mindset after a long hard slog of taking those consecutive titles? For those unconvinced it really was as it appeared – that Ricciardo was simply better – the re-match would surely be welcome."