Renault eyeing shock swoop for Sebastian Vettel from Ferrari if Daniel Ricciardo quits at end of season
RENAULT could move for Sebastian Vettel if they lose Daniel Ricciardo, the Formula 1 team's managing director Cyril Abiteboul has admitted.
The Frenchman feels his star driver could become "very courted" ahead of the 2021 season - particularly if the team fail to make a significant improvement in the coming year.
And the chances of the Vettel leaving Ferrari once his £36million-a-year contract expires at the end of the campaign could make him an attractive option for Renault- with some outlets talking up a swap deal between the teams.
Abiteboul refuses to rule out approaching the four-time champion but he also wants to survey the youth talent at his disposal.
He told : "I don't want to say no, as [Vettel] is a great driver, and a great champion. We worked together on the engine side and we won together.
"I rather aspire to work with tomorrow's drivers than yesterday's.
"It really is very difficult to sum it up like that, so please don't sum it up like that about Sebastian.
"Still, we also have a driver academy, with drivers who might come out of it in 2021 or 2022."
Vettel, 32, has yet to seriously challenge for the F1 world title while at Ferrari as Mercedes maintain their dominance atop the sport in the V6-hybrid era.
Before the season's suspension amid the coronavirus outbreak, team boss Mattia Binotto had nonetheless vowed to agree a new deal with the racer for 2021.
He told reporters at testing in Barcelona: ";Seb is our first option.
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"We are really starting an early discussion with Seb.
"We all are aware the contract is finishing, but it will come very soon to close the discussion and see what's in the best interest of both of us.
"I think what's more a matter is the project which we are sharing, even our longer-term view, so we will come very soon I am sure to an agreement."
