Christian Horner's hint that Daniel Ricciardo could return to Red Bull has been called nothing more than "politically sweet".

Ricciardo was always intended to be Red Bull's safety net. But fluctuating form and a series of decisions leaves the veteran out of F1.

News that the United States GP are targeting a Ricciardo appearance comes after British ex-F1 driver David Coulthard described the Aussie’s exit from VCARB as a publicity “masterstroke”.