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Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has let slip that Daniel Ricciardo won't be replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2025 season - delivering a blunt blow to speculation that the Aussie might join the Silver Arrows.

Following the shock revelation that Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion, will be departing Mercedes for Ferrari at the conclusion of the 2024 season, there was talk that Ricciardo would be a potential replacement.

Hamilton said in a statement: 'I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I'm so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old.

'It's a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I'm excited to be taking on a new challenge.'

Hamilton's move to Ferrari on a multi-year deal, aiming for an eighth title and extending his racing career into his forties, has triggered a reshuffling of the driver lineup.

Helmut Marko says Daniel Ricciardo won't be replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025

Marko stated that Ricciardo has a long-term contract with Red Bull and will not be available

The 39-year-old expressed his commitment to finishing his tenure at Mercedes on a high note, vowing to give his best performance in 2024 alongside new teammate Charles Leclerc, who replaces Carlos Sainz. 

However, Marko has poured cold water on the the idea that Ricciardo could join the Mercedes outfit, stating that the Aussie has a long-term agreement with Red Bull.

'Ricciardo still has a long-term contract and is not available (for Mercedes),' he told publication F1 Insider.

Other potential candidates for the Mercedes seat include former Red Bull driver Alex Albon, who has rebuilt his reputation with Williams, and the young prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a 17-year-old making his Formula 2 debut this year, offering a unique and unexpected option.

Ricciardo, who currently drives for Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri), says that he is 'back in love' with the sport, having spent some time away from Formula 1 in 2022.

'Being back here [Alpha Tauri], it just feels very right for me,' he said in an interview with The Mirror last season.

'The chemistry in the team is really good and I like that. The big picture would be to get back to that team [Red Bull] and that car one day, but I also said that if there is not an opening then I want to stay here.'

Despite initial talks of Ricciardo possibly becoming Max Verstappen's No.2 driver in 2024, Red Bull's Christian Horner has expressed unwavering support for Sergio Perez.

Hamilton's announcement is set to trigger a host of driver announcements before the 2024 Formula 1 series

'I am absolutely confident and clear that Checo (Perez) will be our driver next year,' Horner told motorsport.com in November.

'Now, if he was injured or something like that, there are circumstances beyond our control. But the clear plan and therefore the clear intention is that he will continue. '

'We're planning to continue. We have announced the AlphaTauri drivers, we have our Red Bull Racing drivers. That is how we intend to go racing in 2024,' Horner continued.

'Checo (Perez) has an agreement with us for next year and that's our intention, for him to be in the car in 2024.

'We'll give him all the support we can to ensure that he finishes second (in the drivers' standings), but there's no prerequisite that if he doesn't finish second, you're out.'

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