Button backs Ricciardo for Ferrari move

Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button says he hopes Daniel Ricciardo will land at Ferrari alongside Sebastian Vettel for the 2019 season. As his Red Bull contract winds down towards its expiry, Ricciardo reportedly has the pick of F1's leading three teams.

Ricciardo has said he wants to give himself the best chance of winning races and titles as he plots his next move in F1.

On the surface, Ferrari would certainly do that. The Scuderia have been the most impressive team so far in 2018 and lead the constructors' standings after four races.

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However, Mercedes' dominance of the hybrid era is not to be discounted, with Lewis Hamilton atop the drivers' standings despite a sluggish start to the season perhaps displaying the Silver Arrows' underlying pace.

Button says Ricciardo is in a fortunate position to have such lavish options available to him, but hopes to see another battle between the Australian and his former Red Bull colleague Vettel.

"I'm guessing he has the opportunity of going to Ferrari, a possibility at Mercedes and Red Bull," 2009 world champion Button told Sky Sports News. "It's a tough one - those are the top three teams!

"No one really gets that opportunity and he's very lucky to find himself in that situation. He's got to go with his heart and go with a team that feels right for him with the team atmosphere.

"Personally, I'd like to see him in a Ferrari.

"He doesn't want to make the decision too soon but he also doesn't want to make it too late. Then it looks like he's seeing who was most competitive towards the end of the year.

"Next year is a completely different year and who knows who's going to be competitive?"