Raikkonen's Ferrari deal calms 2016 F1 driver market
Ferrari's decision to retain Kimi Raikkonen for 2016 has stabilised the Formula One driver market, with most leading teams now expected to keep their current line-ups.
Ferrari’s confirmation that Kimi Raikkonen will stay with the team for 2016 has taken much of the heat out of Formula One’s annual ‘silly season’, with most major teams now expected to retain their current drivers for next year.
Red Bull has already made clear its satisfaction with Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat, and Sauber’s driver pairing is locked in. Force India is aiming to keep both Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez, though Hulkenberg is weighing up an offer from the incoming Haas F1 team. If he moves, Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein is in contention for a seat at Force India, but team principal Vijay Mallya has signalled that announcements are not imminent.
Williams is also expected to stick with Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, though neither the team nor the drivers have formally confirmed their 2016 plans. Rob Smedley, Williams’ engineering chief, praised the pairing at Spa, and Bottas himself expressed confidence in the team’s future prospects after the Belgian Grand Prix. Toro Rosso appears set to retain Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, with team boss Franz Tost publicly backing the young duo.
Button’s future remains open
The main unresolved question concerns McLaren, where Fernando Alonso is secure but Jenson Button’s future is less clear. While McLaren’s Eric Boullier said the team is happy with its current line-up, Button has been linked with a move away from Formula One, possibly to a presenting role on the BBC’s Top Gear or even a switch to rallycross, following his recent test in a Mini. McLaren’s junior drivers Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne are also pressing for a seat, and the team faces pressure to reduce costs amid a likely drop in official income.
With Ferrari and most rivals opting for continuity, the 2016 grid is shaping up to be one of the most stable in recent years, barring late moves from drivers such as Hulkenberg or Button. For more on Raikkonen’s contract situation, seeRaikkonen Leaves Ferrari 2016 Option in Team’s Hands.
