Who might replace Raikkonen and where might he go?

[RasputinLives]

I'm going to say it loud and proud (get ready to bookmark this teabagyokel)

"BOTTAS WILL NOT GO TO FERRARI FOR 2016"

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives

That is a bold prediction . Do you think Toto will influence him about moving or not to the enemy?

 

[RasputinLives]

I think he's a merc driver in waiting and Ferrari have their lead driver.

 

[soccerman17]

No clue who will go to Ferrari, but Kimi will retire, go back to Finland, and enjoy his fishing, drinking, and fucking. And run the occasional rally and snowmobile race.

 

[Il_leone]

Don't think Bottas will wait for Rosberg or Hamilton to leave Merc because he's wasting his seasons at Williams and going nowhere unless Williams built a much faster car next season

 

[RasputinLives]

Bottas will be at Williams as long as Toto wants him at Williams.

 

[cider_and_toast]

And by the same token, as long as Williams want Mercedes engines.

 

[Il_leone]

If I was Bottas I'd be thinking I may not get the Merc drive ( see Nick Heidfeld and his value will plummet if he can't beat Massa)

and he would be contesting probably Vettel for one of the seats if he stays as well as any young driver Mercedes want to develop which is probably Esteban Ocon or Wehrlein.

He has to say to himself Williams can only take me so far and I have to take the Ferrari drive if offered based on this season and potentially future in the short term ... not sure if the extra money Williams will get from the constructor position in 2014 will be able to get them closer to the front

Otherwise Bottas will end up like a lot of drivers that were badly managed by Flavio - being in the wrong team at the wrong time of his career .. only exception being Webber and Alonso.

---------------------------------------

As far as Williams still wanting Mercedes engines - they signed a 7 year deal there is no reason to suspect they will end it and Mercedes end it seeing it is a nice revenue stream from a customer. If drivers is an issue then Williams will have to promote Wehrlein (unlikely ) or simply get another established German driver so Hulkenberg and Rosberg should do the trick
----------------------------

Bottas is not in the same situation as Alesi had back in 1990 who had contracts to both teams which were equally competitive. In his case Ferrari are more competitive than Williams now

 

[F1Brits_90]

My guess bottas to ferrari & alex lynn moving up to Williams

 

[Il_leone]

Lynn is the choice preferred by Williams but how much will they bend over backwards for Mercedes and say put Wehrlien in the car or better still Nico Hulkenberg if Ferrari prefer Bottas

 

[Il_leone]

well I think Kimi is Finnished for good so to speak this time

 

[Titch]

Breaking News !!!!
I'm going to Ferrari for 2016. Admittedly I will be the number 2 driver, but I can handle that.

 

[Il_leone]

you will be £15m or so cheaper

 

[Titch]

That's what you think.

 

[Il_leone]

Formula 1 - Ferrari set to drop Raikkonen with Bottas lined-up as his replacement

 

[Holgersson]

Time is ticking away. The longer there is no news, the more probable it is that Raikkonen will get replaced.

Most likely candidate is Bottas, though I'd rather see Ricciardo move to Ferrari.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Seb would never permit that. He doesn't want shown up by Dan in a yet another team.