Valtteri Bottas to Ferrari: Sponsor drops F1 move bombshell
VALTTERI BOTTAS could join Ferrari next year in a shock move away from rivals Mercedes.
Valtteri Bottas could supposedly move to Ferrari
Bottas’ Mercedes contract expires at the end of this season, with no plan yet in place for where he goes next.
Ferrari themselves could be looking for a new driver if they decide not to renew Kimi Raikkonen’s contract.
And Bottas’ chief sponsor, billionaire businessman Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, reckons the Fin could be in line for a jump into red colours.
"Valtteri's move to Ferrari can still be quite possible,” said Finald’s richest man.
“In the meantime, every F1 driver dreams of driving for Ferrari at some point."
Valtteri Bottas finished eighth in his Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix
Mercedes are understood to be weighing up their options for the 2019 season, having been unimpressed by Bottas’ 2017 outing.
The former Williams driver managed three race wins and 10 further podiums but was often stuck behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon of Force India are the two men on Mercedes’ radar, claim F1today.
Valtteri Bottas could replace Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari next season
Ricciardo put in an impressive first outing at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, finishing fourth, while Bottas was way down the back in eighth.
And Aarnio-Wihuri concedes the decision over Bottas’ Mercedes future is not in either his nor the driver’s hands.
"I think it's likely that Valtteri will continue with Mercedes, but in Formula 1 anything can happen," he said.