Daniel Ricciardo doesn't have an escape clause in his contract and will remain with Red Bull in 2018, team principal Christian Horner said on Friday.
Asked at the Monaco Grand Prix if Ricciardo and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen had performance-related elements that might allow them to look elsewhere, Horner told Reuters: "No, none at all. They are both straightforward clean contracts.
"I've got no doubt that both Max and Daniel will be driving an RB14 next year."
The question has become more of an issue, in a paddock where rumours are rife, as former champions Red Bull have slipped back after finishing runners-up to Mercedes last season.
They have two of the most coveted drivers while Ferrari and Mercedes have yet to confirm who will partner multiple champions and title rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton respectively.
The Red Bull pair are both race winners, exciting overtakers and hugely popular among the sport's fan base.
Mercedes and Ferrari are the only teams to have won so far this season and while Ricciardo was third in Spain two weeks ago, he was well over a minute behind race winner Hamilton.
Ricciardo started on pole position in Monaco last year and was second fastest in practice this Thursday around the twisting street circuit, where engine power is less of a factor.
But Red Bull reckoned they had the best chassis last year, compensating for a lack of grunt from the Renault engine, and they cannot say that now.
"Chassis-wise I think we are having to make up ground to our competitors," said Horner.
"Ferrari I think have got a very strong package at the moment. Mercedes obviously are right there also and I think we're closing the gap to them, but we're not quite at their level yet."
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