Arrivabene Hints at Ferrari Interest in Bottas for 2017
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has suggested a possible future move for Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, while indicating Kimi Raikkonen is likely to stay for 2016.
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has indicated that Williams driver Valtteri Bottas is on the Scuderia’s radar for 2017, while strongly suggesting that Kimi Raikkonen will be retained alongside Sebastian Vettel for the 2016 Formula One season.
The comments follow sustained speculation about Ferrari’s future driver line-up. Reports had circulated that Bottas, then 25, might have already signed a pre-agreement to join Ferrari at the end of the current season. However, Finnish media played down those claims, and Arrivabene’s latest remarks point to any potential move being more likely for 2017.
Raikkonen set for contract extension
Arrivabene told Germany’s Bild am Sonntag that Raikkonen’s place at Ferrari was secure if his performance continued. “If he continues like this, we will extend for another year,” Arrivabene said, highlighting not only Raikkonen’s results but also the positive working relationship between Raikkonen and Vettel. The two Finns’ camaraderie and collaboration, even travelling together at times, were cited as factors that influence the team’s decision-making.
This stance effectively rules out a seat for Bottas at Ferrari in 2016, despite the ongoing speculation. It also means that, for now, Williams can expect to retain Bottas for another season. The Italian team’s preference for stability and teamwork appears to outweigh the urge to make a high-profile signing for the immediate future.
Focus on youth over star power
Arrivabene dismissed suggestions that Ferrari might look to lure Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. He said there was no need for Hamilton when Ferrari already had a “heavyweight” in Vettel. Instead, Arrivabene expressed a preference for pairing Vettel with a young, talented driver in the future, a category Bottas clearly fits.
Asked directly about the Bottas rumours, Arrivabene declined to give a definitive answer, stating it was too early to comment. He maintained that he would not lie to the media, but left the door open regarding future moves. This ambiguity has fuelled further talk that Bottas could be in line for a Ferrari seat in 2017, depending on Raikkonen’s form and the team’s direction.
What it means for the driver market
Should Ferrari pursue Bottas for 2017, the move would trigger a reshuffle in the driver market. Williams would need to consider alternatives, while other teams may also enter the frame for Bottas if Ferrari’s interest becomes concrete. For now, the focus remains on Raikkonen’s performance and the existing dynamic within the Ferrari garage.
Arrivabene’s comments reinforce Ferrari’s intent to maintain stability in 2016, but the prospect of Bottas joining the team in 2017 remains alive, subject to results and ongoing negotiations. For more on the Bottas-Ferrari rumours, seeReport claims Bottas signs to replace Raikkonen at Ferrari.
