Two candidates have emerged as possible replacements for the surgery-bound Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus for the remaining two grands prix of the year.<\/p>\n
If the ‘Quantum’ investment arrives at the Enstone based team, German driver Nico Hulkenberg is Lotus’ preferred choice to succeed Raikkonen permanently for 2014.<\/p>\n
But given Raikkonen’s premature exit, does he have a chance to switch from Sauber a couple of races early?<\/p>\n
“Not likely,” Hulkenberg’s manager Werner Heinz told Bild newspaper.\u00a0 “No one has talked with us about that.”<\/p>\n
In reality, the hot favourite is Lotus’ reserve driver Davide Valsecchi, who since winning last year’s GP2 title has been waiting patiently for his chance.<\/p>\n
However, the Italian was surprised when a correspondent for the Italian magazine Autosprint phoned him on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know anything,” said Valsecchi.\u00a0 “I haven’t heard anything from the team and I was not at the factory last week.<\/p>\n
“Not even the people I talk to regularly at Enstone said anything,” he added.<\/p>\n
Valsecchi said he will travel to Austin, as per his existing arrangements, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“If something happens, I’m ready,” he insisted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, as Ferrari held a farewell party for the departing Felipe Massa at Mugello at the weekend, the Brazilian warned Raikkonen to be fighting fit for his duel with Fernando Alonso next year.<\/p>\n
“Kimi and Ferrari know each other very well already,” Massa is quoted by La Repubblica.<\/p>\n
“But he is not very familiar with Fernando, so I think he should go in the gym and get ready,” he smiled.<\/p>\n
“Fernando is a very strong driver, very strong.\u00a0 It will not be easy for him (Raikkonen),” added Massa.<\/p>\n
The Auto Bild (Germany) and Italiaracing publications are reporting that Massa’s deal to move to Williams next year, to replace Pastor Maldonado, is now effectively done.<\/p>\n
It is believed the deal will include the sponsorship of the Brazilian oil company Petrobras.<\/p>\n
But Massa insisted: “I will go on as a driver, not to plug the holes in someone’s balance sheet.”<\/p>\n
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