F1: Daniel Ricciardo gets huge offer to join McLaren

The German publication Sports Bild reports that McLaren are keen on signing Daniel Ricciardo and have offered the Red Bull driver a lucrative contract.

McLaren’s offer to the Australian is thought to be $20m (£15.2m) per season, an amount that would more than triple his current salary and make him one of the highest-paid drivers in Formula 1.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko admits that Ricciardo will be in demand as his contract with the team expires at the end of the season. Marko said: “Our Daniel Ricciardo is the king of the market. McLaren offers him more every week.”

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Ahead of this weekend’s French Grand Prix 28-year-old Ricciardo is fourth in the F1 drivers’ standings and has two victories to his name this season – in China and Monaco.

Lewis Hamilton, the reigning world champion, is also in talks about a new deal with Mercedes. Ricciardo may wait for Hamilton to put pen to paper before signing his own contract.

Marko said: “Ricciardo doesn’t want to sign until Hamilton has signed. It’s a bit strange. Hopefully it ends soon.”

If McLaren do recruit Ricciardo for next year could he replace Fernando Alonso? The two-time world champion revealed last week that he has an important decision to make on his future after the F1 summer break.

The Spaniard is being linked with a move to IndyCar.