Sebastian Vettel responds to being linked to McLaren as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement

The future of both Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel has been speculated this season.

Daniel Ricciardo has had just about everybody linked with his McLaren drive in recent weeks as speculation continues to surround him.

The Australian has struggled to settle in at the Woking-based side since his arrival at the beginning of last year, and he has been largely out-performed by team-mate Lando Norris.

Over the past seven months, Patricio O’Ward, Jehan Daruvala and Colton Herta have all tested the McLaren, and it is the latter that has been attracting the most attention.

READ: Sebastian Vettel plays down Aston Martin contract extension talks

The young American has won seven IndyCar races with a combination of Harding and Andretti in the American series, and he is highly rated by Norris, who raced alongside him with Carlin in the 2015 MSA Formula Championship.

Another linked with the seat is Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Following some perhaps incendiary comments about Ricciardo by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, there is speculation that the 33-year-old may lose his drive at the end of the current season, and Vettel’s contract at Aston Martin is up this year.

Therefore, he has been associated with the seat but, while he is familiar with some of the McLaren team members, he does not appear to have any interest in the tenuous links.

“I know obviously some people there, but I think it’s just rumours,” he said ahead of the French Grand Prix weekend.

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As for where he will be next year, the four-time world champion made it clear that he is eager to stay with the British side going into 2023.

“Well, I’m racing this weekend, and the next one,” added Vettel.

“Obviously, I’ve said that at some point we’ll start to talk, and I’m talking to the team, I think there is a clear intention to keep going, and we’ll see soon where we stand.”

READ: Daniel Ricciardo defends statement about his future at McLaren after Zak Brown criticism

Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack has previously made it very clear that he would like Vettel to stay.

Ricciardo has also affirmed that he will be the one “deciding” his future, and he has no intention of leaving McLaren this season.