Bottas to Ferrari, Nasr to Williams?

According to various reports in Italy, Ferrari are prepared to buy Bottas out of his Williams contract,which will cost the Italian team 12 million Euros.

Ferrari is ready to have a new driver-line up for next season by replacing Finn Kimi Raikkonen with his compatriot and Williams driver Valteri Bottas. Bottas has been seen by many as the natural replacement to Raikkonen and has impressed this year in Williams. He is current 1 point ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the driver’s championship and fourth overall. Earlier in May 2015 Bottas confirmed that his current deal with Williams expires at the end of this year and both the parties have not agreed on a new contract as of yet.

Raikkonen returned to Ferrari after agreeing on a 2-year deal in 2014, but he has struggled since his return, managing only one podium and being outperformed, first by Spaniard Fernando Alonso and now by German Sebastian Vettel.

The report which has been published by Italy’s Corriere dello Sport claims that a deal is already in place between Ferrari and Williams for Valteri to switch to the Italian team. Raikkonen has previously suggested that he would retire at the end of this year.

Should Bottas move to Ferrari, it would represent a step up in his Formula One career, after spending 6 years at Williams. His team-mate Felipe Massa, once of Ferrari is likely to remain at Williams next year. Bottas move to Ferrari may spark many other moves as Williams themselves would be looking for a replacement. If sources are to be believed, Felipe Nasr is next in line to replace Bottas after initial reports pointed to former Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg taking over. Nasr was previously associated with the Williams team as their reserve driver in 2014, has been fairly impressive this season outscoring his experienced team mate Marcus Ericsson and looking much more impressive. If Nasr does move to Williams, it would lead to a duel Felipe pair at the team, with Nico Hulkenberg again not getting a chance to prove his worth.
The next F1 race is scheduled at Hungary on the 26 of July at the Hungaroring circuit.