Red Bull has ruled Daniel Ricciardo out of the running for a Ferrari seat in 2016, and are adamant that the Australian of Italian heritage is staying put.
Already linked with the place currently occupied by Kimi Raikkonen, Australian Ricciardo fired the Ferrari rumours even more in Canada when he admitted his growing frustration with Red Bull.
"For my career, I need to be aware of what's happening," he said. "I don't want to be one of the champions who never was."
Team boss Christian Horner, however, played down the prospect of losing Ricciardo at the end of the year, insisting the 25-year-old has a "long term" deal.
And Helmut Marko, boss of Red Bull's driver programme, has now told Sport Bild: "Daniel has a bulletproof contract with us."
He said there is "nothing at all" to the current rumours of Ricciardo's departure, "He will definitely be with us in 2016."
And Even Ricciardo admits he is committed to Red Bull for 2016, and told the Telegraph, "I'll be here next year and we'll see how we go."
After emerging as a standout prospect in the Red Bull junior programme, Ricciardo's career in Formula 1 has been bank-rolled by the energy drinks organisation who financed his grand prix debut in 2011 with HRT, before promoting him to Toro Rosso in 2012.
In 2014 the big smiling Aussie replaced Mark Webber to partner quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel in the senior team.
After a stellar season with the Red Bull senior team, Ricciardo became the team leader after Vettel's departure to Ferrari.
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