Bottas to Ferrari
Discussion
According to Italy’s Corriere dello Sport Bottas has been signed to replace Raikkonen at Ferrari next year having paid Williams to release him from his contract. Massa had hinted at this a few days ago so could be true although nothing can/will be confirmed before the end of the month when Kimi's contract option expires.
Could lead to a real shuffle in the mid-pack, would be nice to see Palmer get a race seat somewhere out of all this and Hulk get a more competitive drive but time will tell. As long as Maldonado doesn't buy himself a better seat, dislike that guy immensely!
Could lead to a real shuffle in the mid-pack, would be nice to see Palmer get a race seat somewhere out of all this and Hulk get a more competitive drive but time will tell. As long as Maldonado doesn't buy himself a better seat, dislike that guy immensely!
I will believe it when it is announced by the team. Far too many crazy rumours reported as 'fact' these last couple of years when it comes to the driver market.
IF it is true then I'm disappointed Kimi is out of F1, but really his record these last 2 seasons has been s
tty. I hope he can have a few decent results to at least retire with some credibility in tact. I mean this was the guy who many people put in the same category as Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel a few years back.... maybe that was excess hype but still quite a shocking fall in form these last 2 years.
And if Bottas really is going to Ferrari I think he is a lucky guy - I really don't see the appeal, he is barely (if at all) faster than Massa and nobody rated Massa as a top line driver these last few years since his accident. I think on paper Ferrari have gone for the predictable and supposedly 'safe' choice, but at a time when Bottas actually appears to be having a downswing in form.... hmm that seems a strangely familiar scenario to me.
I would have been far more exciting for them to bring in one of the really young stars like Nasr, Sainz Jr, Verstappen or Kvyat.
IF it is true then I'm disappointed Kimi is out of F1, but really his record these last 2 seasons has been s
tty. I hope he can have a few decent results to at least retire with some credibility in tact. I mean this was the guy who many people put in the same category as Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel a few years back.... maybe that was excess hype but still quite a shocking fall in form these last 2 years. And if Bottas really is going to Ferrari I think he is a lucky guy - I really don't see the appeal, he is barely (if at all) faster than Massa and nobody rated Massa as a top line driver these last few years since his accident. I think on paper Ferrari have gone for the predictable and supposedly 'safe' choice, but at a time when Bottas actually appears to be having a downswing in form.... hmm that seems a strangely familiar scenario to me.
I would have been far more exciting for them to bring in one of the really young stars like Nasr, Sainz Jr, Verstappen or Kvyat.
RobGT81 said:
It's mostly bloggers using it as clickbait to try and legitimise their F1 media status
Corriere are well connected at Ferrari, although there is a little scepticism in the rest of the Italian media.Also being reported on Joe Saward's blog - he doesn't usually regurgitate smoke and mirror news...
It will be interesting to see if this leads to Button going back to Williams.
One senses that both he and team management aren't entirely comfortable with him being at Mclaren.
Muzzer79 said:
Corriere are well connected at Ferrari, although there is a little scepticism in the rest of the Italian media.
Also being reported on Joe Saward's blog - he doesn't usually regurgitate smoke and mirror news...
It will be interesting to see if this leads to Button going back to Williams.
One senses that both he and team management aren't entirely comfortable with him being at Mclaren.
Doubt theyd go for Button unless they drop Massa, think theyd opt for someone younger like Hulkenberg.Also being reported on Joe Saward's blog - he doesn't usually regurgitate smoke and mirror news...
It will be interesting to see if this leads to Button going back to Williams.
One senses that both he and team management aren't entirely comfortable with him being at Mclaren.
It's the right time of year for a Ferrari announcement with Monza coming up in the near future. I want hoping Hulkenberg would get the job at last. What has the guy got to do?! I'd quite to see him or JB back in a Williams though.
Massa has got to be one of the most difficult drivers to compare to. Over the years he has such high points combined with periods that Maldonado wouldn't think acceptable. Speaking of which I hope he'll finally be turfed out and never seen again. I'm sure there's a lovely Formula e seat waiting for him!
Massa has got to be one of the most difficult drivers to compare to. Over the years he has such high points combined with periods that Maldonado wouldn't think acceptable. Speaking of which I hope he'll finally be turfed out and never seen again. I'm sure there's a lovely Formula e seat waiting for him!
VolvoT5 said:
And if Bottas really is going to Ferrari I think he is a lucky guy - I really don't see the appeal, he is barely (if at all) faster than Massa and nobody rated Massa as a top line driver these last few years since his accident. I think on paper Ferrari have gone for the predictable and supposedly 'safe' choice, but at a time when Bottas actually appears to be having a downswing in form.... hmm that seems a strangely familiar scenario to me.
I would have been far more exciting for them to bring in one of the really young stars like Nasr, Sainz Jr, Verstappen or Kvyat.
You nailed it with "safe".I would have been far more exciting for them to bring in one of the really young stars like Nasr, Sainz Jr, Verstappen or Kvyat.
Fez have gone through a bit of a change recently, employing kimi alongside alonso was a surprise given their previous commitment to no1/no2 drivers, but the rejuvenated ferrari probably haven't really changed their spots; with a car that they can think about challenging at the front again, with their wonder boy vettel leading, they want stability. Me & the OH (who's quite down on bottas) were having a chat about him the other day, he's quick and impressive but he doesn't seem to have the opportunism in his driving, the kind of thing that delivered race victories for ricciardo last year, and we saw that at silverstone- evan after being told he was okay to pass (when other drivers would have gone "sod it" and passed already) he couldn't find a way to pass massa despite having obvious speed. but that sort of makes him ideal to play no2 at fez - build the points they need for championships without worrying vettel too much.
hairyben said:
You nailed it with "safe".
Fez have gone through a bit of a change recently, employing kimi alongside alonso was a surprise given their previous commitment to no1/no2 drivers, but the rejuvenated ferrari probably haven't really changed their spots; with a car that they can think about challenging at the front again, with their wonder boy vettel leading, they want stability. Me & the OH (who's quite down on bottas) were having a chat about him the other day, he's quick and impressive but he doesn't seem to have the opportunism in his driving, the kind of thing that delivered race victories for ricciardo last year, and we saw that at silverstone- evan after being told he was okay to pass (when other drivers would have gone "sod it" and passed already) he couldn't find a way to pass massa despite having obvious speed. but that sort of makes him ideal to play no2 at fez - build the points they need for championships without worrying vettel too much.
I would hardly call Ferrari rejuvenated as they have been the best part of a second a lap slower all year and in the last two races it appeared to be back over a second, suggesting they are losing the development race, again. Fez have gone through a bit of a change recently, employing kimi alongside alonso was a surprise given their previous commitment to no1/no2 drivers, but the rejuvenated ferrari probably haven't really changed their spots; with a car that they can think about challenging at the front again, with their wonder boy vettel leading, they want stability. Me & the OH (who's quite down on bottas) were having a chat about him the other day, he's quick and impressive but he doesn't seem to have the opportunism in his driving, the kind of thing that delivered race victories for ricciardo last year, and we saw that at silverstone- evan after being told he was okay to pass (when other drivers would have gone "sod it" and passed already) he couldn't find a way to pass massa despite having obvious speed. but that sort of makes him ideal to play no2 at fez - build the points they need for championships without worrying vettel too much.
Also if they want a safe no.2 predictable/harmony then why not just retain Raikkonen (on a much lower salary); that is what Vettel wants? I doubt Bottas will do much better, especially if he is treated as clear no.2. He is hardly blowing away Massa is he?
I think this is a missed opportunity for Ferrari to change approach. They are effectively swapping one slightly disappointing driver for a younger one that has also not shown any amazing performances either. Not only that but they are apparently paying huge bucks to Williams to buy him out a year early. Something about Ferrari in this last decade is just toxic - talented people seem to go there but aren't able to shine.
Jasandjules said:
Is it just me who would love to see Ricciardo going to Ferrari?!?
My OH's an aussie and frustrated at RB this season; apparently the oz media is full of him/fez rumours. I think if bottas went to fez DR would do well to have a go in the williams, he has the opportunism to make a few thing work out (I bet if he'd been in bottas seat at silverstone we'd be looking at a different result)I'm still undecided as to whether this is good for Bottas...
On the one hand, he gets to drive for Ferrari. Almost every F1 driver wants to be able to say they drove for Ferrari.
However I believe he has the potential to be a world champion at some point in his career, but moving to Ferrari will actually hurt his chances because Ferrari are clear that they have a number 1 and number 2 driver.
Unfortunately, Bottas will be their number 2 as long as Seb is there 
On the one hand, he gets to drive for Ferrari. Almost every F1 driver wants to be able to say they drove for Ferrari.
However I believe he has the potential to be a world champion at some point in his career, but moving to Ferrari will actually hurt his chances because Ferrari are clear that they have a number 1 and number 2 driver.
Unfortunately, Bottas will be their number 2 as long as Seb is there 
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