Will Valtteri Bottas arrive in F1 in 2013?

Valtteri Bottas’s chances, the third Williams driver, of making his arrival in F1 as a full-time driver in 2013, particularly with Williams, are greatly amplified by the fact that his manager is none other than Toto Wolff, shareholder and now the new executive director of the team alongside Frank Williams.

He confirmed in the Budapest paddock that negotiations were currently underway. When asked about a possible conflict of interest, the Austrian investor stated: « Absolutely, there is a conflict of interest. That’s why, at the very beginning of the season, actually since last year, I have withdrawn from all negotiations between the team and Valtteri’s management group. My role with Valtteri is purely financial. He is managed by Didier Coton, who does a fantastic job on a daily basis, and we have, to use banking language, Chinese walls. »

This kind of situation is not unfamiliar in F1 as we can remember that Flavio Briatore, during his heyday at Renault, was the agent of his two drivers, Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli!

Of course, Toto Wolff hopes for a return on investment, which is guaranteed by his contract with the Finnish driver: « Fortunately, I am a shareholder of the team and I have a 5% commission on Valtteri’s contract. I think this clearly shows which direction the balance would tilt if it were only about money. It is very clear that the team will make its decision to have the best driver package and hopefully we can have the fastest one. »

This statement does not go unnoticed on the day the main party achieved a time in the first free practice session 148 thousandths faster than Pastor Maldonado. While the latter benefits from significant support from PDVSA and is basking in his victory in Spain, Bruno Senna might have reason to worry about his future within Sir Frank’s team…

From our correspondent in Budapest