DANIEL Ricciardo's grip on the prized second Formula 1 seat at Red Bull Racing may be slipping, with reports Kimi Raikkonen is back in the running.

Red Bull had originally suggested they would reveal their 2014 driver line-up at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, with Ricciardo the hot tip to replace the retiring Mark Webber.

Earlier this week, Raikkonen's manager revealed he had ended talks with the team "some time ago", with the phlegmatic Finn then linked to a possible return to Ferrari.

The announcement seemingly paving the way for the 24-year-old Perth-born Ricciardo to move up to a race-winning car for the first time in his F1 career.

However, on the eve of the Spa-Francorchamps race weekend, F1's silly-season has taken another sharp twist.

Red Bull has backflipped on announcement plans, reports they are going to meet with Raikkonen to re-open contract talks.

"We will express ourselves when the time comes, and that will definitely not be at Spa," Red Bull team advisor Dr Helmut Marko told SID.

"What we will do will be the best for the team, in the medium term."

Sky Sports F1 analyst Tony Jardine claims credible sources have confirmed Red Bull will sit down with Raikkonen at Spa in what's shaping up to be a last-ditch bid to land the Finn's signature.

IF RAIKKONEN GOES TO RED BULL, WHERE TO FOR RICCIARDO?

If the 33-year-old Finn does put pen to paper, it leaves Ricciardo with limited options for a competitive race drive in 2014.

Despite a potential two vacancies at Lotus if Raikkonen leaves and the team lose faith in Romain Grosjean, paddock insiders are tipping highly-rated Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg to pair with Pastor Maldonado.

Similarly, if Ferrari cut loose an underperforming Felipe Massa they have a raft of Ferrari Academy drivers waiting in the wings, led by Hulkenberg and Marussia driver Jules Bianchi.

The only other potentially front-running team, McLaren, already have current drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez on their books for 2014.

That would leave Ricciardo with the option of either continuing on at Toro Rosso or trying to switch to another mid-grid team where he would likely have to bring money.

Originally published as Ricciardo-Red Bull deal shaky