Lotus: What options to replace Räikkönen?
After the announcement of Kimi Räikkönen's arrival at Ferrari for two seasons starting in 2014, a seat opens up at Lotus. A quick overview of the contenders for a coveted spot.
The Lotus-Renault team has proven to be a winning team accustomed to podiums. In two seasons so far, Kimi Räikkönen has achieved two victories with the team, and with his teammate Romain Grosjean, they have climbed the podium 18 times. This certainly piques interest in Eric Boullier’s team, which, after the Finnish driver’s signing with Ferrari, will now have to seek a replacement.
The hottest lead currently points towards Nico Hülkenberg. The German driver has already announced that he will leave Sauber at the end of the year and would like to join a top team. With the door closed at Ferrari, his only option left is Lotus. His recent fifth place at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza last weekend left a strong impression and only served to confirm his good reputation.
Another serious lead would point towards Felipe Massa, the unfortunate player in the signing of Räikkönen with the Reds. The Brazilian, 2008 world vice-champion, has a significant amount of experience that could attract a team like Lotus on the brink of major technical changes expected for 2014.
Pastor Maldonado’s name has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Räikkönen. The Venezuelan’s future at Williams could dim due to the presence of Johnny Ceccoto Jr, who is said to bring even more funding than Maldonado. Therefore, Maldonado could leverage the support of his wealthy personal sponsor, PDVSA, to entice the Lotus team, which is still seeking long-term financial stability.
The choice remains to be made for Eric Boullier and his team, who nevertheless wish to secure Romain Grosjean’s seat in order to maintain a certain continuity: « Continuity would be ideal. With Räikkönen’s departure, we will help Romain keep his seat with us. It’s logical. »
