SUZUKA, JAPAN // Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa are the frontrunners to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus next season, but the team must first secure fresh investment, principal Eric Boullier said yesterday.
“Hulkenberg and Massa are the two drivers you have to consider because of their experience and profile,” the Frenchman said at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Germany’s Hulkenberg, currently with Swiss-based Sauber and on his third team in three seasons, wants his future sorted soon.
“What I have basically said is that I would like to have clarification or certainty by the end of October,” he said.
Boullier hoped that would be possible, but it depended on the team, who won titles as Benetton and Renault and are currently fourth overall in the championship, finalising a long-awaited deal with new partners.
Lotus announced in June that Infinity Racing consortium – made up of private investors including an American hedge-fund manager, and Emaar, an Abu Dhabi-based multinational business group – had acquired a 35 per cent stake.
The team reports that the deal has yet to be finalised. “We want to now close this Infinity partner story, because this should give us the ability to be at least secure and going into the next step,” Boullier said.
“There is this part and a big sponsorship part being discussed and I think we are nearly there. Once we have done this, we can afford to pick the driver we want.
“It could be tomorrow, it could be next week but ... I will not bring Nico here if we see we cannot afford him.”
Lotus are the only team yet to confirm their engine supplier for 2014, although it is sure to be Renault.
“We would like to discuss a branding opportunity with them and maybe something even closer,” he said. “Everything is ready to be signed, everything is the same as Red Bull [who also use Renault engines]. I am just waiting a little bit to ensure no stone is left unturned.”
As to whether Hulkenberg is the main candidate to replace Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who is returning to Ferrari in place of Felipe Massa, the Frenchman said: “We cannot only rely on Nico, but Nico is obviously one of the targets, yes.”
Massa has 11 wins for Ferrari, although none since 2008, and said he is optimistic about staying in the sport.
Hulkenberg’s position at financially struggling Sauber is uncertain. The team is expected to use Russian Sergey Sirotkin, 18, as part of a deal with new Russian partners. Sauber’s other driver, Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, brings important sponsorship.
An alternative to Hulkenberg and Massa would be a driver bringing finance with him, but Boullier said Lotus, who have struggled to pay Raikkonen his wages this season, would be reluctant to venture down that road.
“This is not the way to go. We are here to compete at the highest level and the ambition of the team and owners is to compete at the highest level,” he said.
Boullier said everyone at the Lotus factory had been paid and was not worried about other staff following Raikkonen out the door. Technical director James Allison and Dirk de Beer have already left.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Fixture and table
UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
- 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
- 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership – final standings
- Dubai Exiles
- Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Jebel Ali Dragons
- Dubai Hurricanes
- Dubai Sports City Eagles
- Abu Dhabi Saracens
Company%20profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
RESULTS
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company%20Profile
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Tomb%20Raider%20I%E2%80%93III%20Remastered
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Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
ASHES FIXTURES
1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8
Jawan
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EXPATS
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5