Valtteri Bottas now thought to be key to 2017 driver market

  • Published on 13 Oct 2016 11:58
  • comments 0
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Valtteri Bottas is thought to be the key man in the 2017 driver market.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims that now Nico Hulkenberg is all-but-certain to make the switch to Renault from Force India, Bottas could become the latest high profile driver to move teams.

Bottas is currently in negotiations with Williams over a new deal, but it is thought that he is only after a one year contract, while the team want to tie him down for longer.

"They would have a real problem," an unnamed team boss is quoted as saying. "There are no real team leaders among the drivers who are still available."

Well-backed drivers Felipe Nasr, Esteban Gutierrez, Jolyon Palmer and the Mercedes-supported Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon are also being linked with moves, as is the largely unsponsored Daniil Kvyat, who is being linked with Force India and Sauber, while Kevin Magnussen has reportedly caught the eye of Haas.

Meanwhile, Force India have come out saying that Nico Hulkenberg would be unwise to leave the team.

"It would be foolish to force a driver to drive for us if he doesn't want to," said sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer. "But I think Nico would be ill advised to go. We are fourth in the championship -- and where is Renault?"

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