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Ferrari may issue a surprise at Monza in September by keeping its full team together for 2016. Amid raging speculation about Kimi Raikkonen's future, the Italian publication Motorionline claims the Finn might actually be about to get his contract extended.
It has been said Williams has already agreed a lucrative deal to release Valtteri Bottas to the Maranello team, but the young Finn is playing that down. "Obviously there have been some annoying rumours," Bottas said at an event for Williams sponsor Sure this week. "Those are not true and they are not fair for Williams and not fair for Kimi. Before there are any facts we just need to wait and see what happens," he added.
The latest report, by Italy's Motorionline, suggests that Ferrari may be planning not only to announce a new deal for Raikkonen at Monza, but also a contract extension for technical boss James Allison. It had been rumoured Briton Allison could be made the scapegoat of Ferrari's mid-season development slump.
But amid that talk, Sebastian Vettel recorded his second win of the season in Hungary and so "That's why I sent him (Allison) onto the podium," team boss Maurizio Arrivabene told Germany's Sport Bild. And also performing strongly in Hungary, until his technical problem, was the under-fire Raikkonen. Arrivabene was quoted by El Confidencial: "I'm really disappointed because, if I am honest, Kimi was really great." (GMM)
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (2)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
Too many rumors, too little facts...
It would not surprise me when most, if not all of the drivers stay put for 2016, except at Manor maybe. Even Kimi, I'm pretty sure he will stay with Ferrari next year. There are no real drivers available that are truly faster than him. Maybe Hulkenberg but it's clear none of the big teams want 2 drivers with the same nationality. It's not good for marketing... ;)
Haas is a factor as they will be looking for experienced drivers but not sure many are willing to take the risk if they have the option to stay where they are.
For 2017 it will be a completely different ballgame, that will be a crazy silly season.
MP4/4 SW
Posts: 6
Kimi will definitely be at Ferrari for 2016, the moral will be really high with Kimi and Vettel being good friends and keeping a constant communication with each other when it comes to strategies, he may have had a couple of blips this year, but atleast he can keep up much of the pace with Vettel