Daniel Ricciardo got his 2018 campaign off to a flyer in the third race of the Formula 1 calendar, taking the spoils at the Chinese Grand Prix almost two weeks ago.

After only qualifying in sixth place on the grid, Ricciardo ran a fine race before overtaking leader Valtteri Bottas on Lap 45, and never looked in danger of relinquishing the lead. 

However, if reports are to be believed, the Aussie could be making the jump from his current team, Red Bull Racing, to the all-red outfit of Ferrari in the near future.

According to reports in Italy, the 28-year-old has entered an 'exclusivity agreement' with arguably the most well-renowned constructors in the sport, with an eye to moving to them for the 2019 season.

Ricciardo is out of contract at Red Bull at the end of the current season. The constructors are still hoping to keep him, but he has reported demands of £36 million for a two-year deal.

And Giancarlo Minardi, former owner of the now-defunct Minardi F1 team, is of the belief that negotiations with the Australian are further down the line than what is being reported.

"I do not want Kimi Raikkonen but I think Ferrari is a bit rejuvenated,” said Minardi, per The Express.

“I like Ricciardo and I also think that Ferrari, with him, has something more than a simple gentlemen’s agreement.

“He is a driver who could be very suitable for a winning team like Ferrari because he is going to "stimulate" Sebastian Vettel, the one that today is definitely the first Maranello driver.

“But now you have to see what Vettel will say," stated Minardi, indicating that he believes that Vettel has some power within the team to have a say on who is recruited as his team-mate.

If Ricciardo does make the jump to the Italian team, a gap will then open at Red Bull, which Renault's 23-year old Spaniard driver Carlos Sainz Jr is being tipped to inherit, where he would partner the flying Dutch youngster Max Verstappen.