Hulkenberg and Massa in race for Raikkonen’s vacancy at Lotus

The marque will ideally want not to get sponsored drivers if they can get the finance to foot the bill.

Nico Hulkenberg is the front-runner to replace Kimi Raikkonen at lotus. Diego Azubel / EPA

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.