(Williams Martini Racing Team)
Scuderia Ferrari have reportedly sounded out Williams
Martini Racing Team’s Valtteri Bottas in relation to the highly rated Finn
joining the Maranello based outfit in 2016.
According to an article in the January issue of F1Racing
Magazine, Bottas has agreed to discuss the possibility of replacing fellow Finn
Kimi Raikkonen as Sebastian Vettel’s team mate at the Italian team in 2016 when
Raikkonen’s contract expires. Raikkonen endured an extremely difficult first
season at Ferrari where he finished in 12th place in the
championship on 55 points.
Valtteri Bottas had a fantastic 2014 season with Williams
Martini Racing. The Finn secured six podium finishes on his way to finishing
the season in fourth place in the championship on 186 points. Bottas’ highest
qualifying result was a second place alongside team mate Felipe Massa at the
Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Bottas also started the German Grand Prix in second place.
The Finn will remain at Williams Martini Racing for the 2015 Formula One season
and it could be difficult for the Grove based outfit to keep the talented Finn
who has been with the team since joining them as test driver in 2010.
It is also possible that Bottas could end up at Mercedes if
Lewis Hamilton fails to reach an agreement over a contract extension with the
Brackley based outfit.
The 2014 world champion’s current contract runs until
the end of the 2015 Formula One season. It is unlikely however that the Finn
will join Mercedes as Toto Wolff along with former world champion Mika Hakkinen
are involved in the management of the Finn’s Formula One career.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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