Ferrari has launched a bid to secure Valtteri Bottas for 2016, according to Germany’s Bild Newspaper.
Amid speculation that Kimi Raikkonen’s future at the Italian team, the report said Ferrari has made “an offer” not only to Bottas but also his current team Williams.
That is because the British outfit has a firm contractual ‘option’ to retain Bottas for 2016, and is determined to keep the highly rated 25-year-old.
“It would be a pity if he leaves the team,” said Williams’ experienced technical boss Pat Symonds. “I know he feels very comfortable here, and he is an important part of the team.”
Bild claims that Ferrari is offering to pay Williams €4 million euros to release the young Finn, but “but deputy boss Claire Williams is demanding much more”.
The report believes Williams’ counter-offer could be as much as EUR 15 million, which has been initially rejected by Ferrari’s Maurizio Arrivabene.
But Bild said that if Bottas does go to Ferrari in 2016, the main contender to fill his place at Williams would be the teams driver of 2010, Nico Hulkenberg.
The report said that Hulkenberg is not in the running at Ferrari because the Italian team would not pair Sebastian Vettel with a second German driver.
Images courtesy of Williams Martini Racing
