Mercedes still has an open seat although team boss Toto Wolff has made it clear Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli is the team’s “future”.
Ricciardo was actually ninth on the list until the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix but was overtaken by Sergio Perez after the Mexican’s fourth-place finish at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Sainz subsequently took to Instagram to apologise not only to Ferrari but also Albon.