Daniel Ricciardo said his "future is clear" after dropping initial speculation linking him to Sebastian Vettel's seat at Aston Martin following the German's announcement that he would retire at the end of the year.

As soon as Vettel revealed his exit from F1 at the end of this year and speculation immediately began about who would replace the former world champion.

Australian Ricciardo, who is under contract with McLaren for 2023, was quickly linked to the vacancy, but asked if he has any interest in switching teams, he said:

"Obviously, it's nothing against Aston Martin, but my future is clear and it's here at McLaren."

Riccardo spoke with a certain sadness about Vettel's retirement.

He, who raced alongside Vettel at Red Bull in 2014, said, "It is in a way sad because you are really losing a little bit of a legend of the sport. And obviously, personally, I spent some time alongside him, which was for sure, a privilege."

"Him leaving is one of those where you're sad, but also happy that he's now starting a new chapter of life. I learned a lot in 2014 alongside him and even before that, when I was a reserve driver and just being around the team and watching how he worked."

"It was always interesting. He had a lot of good characteristics and a way of getting people around him, but also being very direct. It was cool. He is just a very driven individual and we will certainly miss him, but I wish him all the best."

Alonso has also been asked about the vacancy that Vettel will leave, but he didn't seem too interested:

"All teams are an option, as long as they don't have two drivers signed," Alonso said today.

"My priority is to be with Alpine. We have been working and developing this project together for two years. We are becoming more and more competitive."

"Probably my desire is to stay. But we haven't sat down completely and moved on with things. So everything is still in progress."

"The start of the summer vacation will be the point where I need to sit down and conclude something. Summer vacation starts next Monday."

On the possibility of talks with Aston Martin: "Not really no, I think we talked in 2020 when they were more competitive, won races and got podium finishes, before I came back to F1. It didn't go well, I came to Alpine and I'm happy where I am."

"I would like to stay here, I said that. But there are two parties, and I'm not putting a gun to anyone's head."

"We will open negotiations and as I said, if we reach an agreement, it will be a 10-minute conversation. If we have to fight a lot, it will be awkward."

Alonso reflected on Vettel's retirement by considering the toughest rivals of his career: "I think Lewis and Seb, both of whom I shared most of my time with. Obviously Michael Schumacher too, as I also fought him quite a bit after watching him in Formula One dominating the sport. I learned a lot of things from Michael, then from Lewis and Seb. The three of us share a lot."