Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez bosses say 'hands off' to Ferrari

Sergio Perez of Force India during previews ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom on April 28, 2016
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Red Bull and Force India have issued a firm 'hands off' amid speculation Ferrari is shopping around to replace Kimi Raikkonen.

Red Bull and Force India have issued firm 'hands off' warnings amid speculation that Ferrari are shopping around to replace Kimi Raikkonen.

Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene recently declared that Raikkonen alongside Sebastian Vettel is an "ideal pairing" for the Maranello team, but the 36-year-old notably struggled in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix.

It will only magnify speculation that Daniel Ricciardo, who drives for Red Bull, and perhaps even Force India's Sergio Perez, might be in line to succeed the 2007 world champion.

Ricciardo was not halting the rumours in Montreal when he suggested he might not be loyal to Red Bull forever.

"The only place I want to be is somewhere they can say 'Yep, you can fight for a world title with us'," the Australian said. "That's all I really want."

However, Ricciardo's boss says that the on-form 26-year-old is going nowhere.

"Ricciardo will definitely be with us until 2018," Dr Helmut Marko told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "We have a contract with him."

Issuing a similar 'hands off' is Force India's sporting director Otmar Szafnauer, amid suggestions that Monaco podium-getter Sergio Perez might get a second chance at joining a top team.

"Sergio is ours," Szafnauer insisted. "If Ferrari want him, they would have to pay us a lot of money."

Ricciardo and Perez placed seventh and 10th respectively at the weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari during practice for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 13, 2016
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