Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says Ferrari doesn't need Lewis Hamilton, and hints at a potential agreement with Valtteri Bottas.
With Hamilton's contract at Mercedes due to expire at the end of the season and negotiations having been ongoing for a number of months, the double world champion has been linked with a switch to Maranello if he doesn't sign a new deal. However, Arrivabene says the presence of Sebastian Vettel means Ferrari would go for a younger option.
"Why do I need Lewis Hamilton when I have a heavyweight like Vettel?" Arrivabene told Bild. "I would rather look around for a young, talented driver to unite with Sebastian."
And following reports of a deal between Bottas and Ferrari for 2016 or 2017, when asked if the Finn had signed a pre-contract agreement, Arrivabene replied: "I promised in the pre-season that I would never lie to [the media], but for this question it is too early to give a precise answer."
Kimi Raikkonen's deal also expires at the end of the year, with Ferrari holding an option to extend his contract until the end of 2016.
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