With Kimi Raikkonen leaving LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
951 photos
7 videos
at the end of the season, there is a big seat to fill with the team. Until now, Lotus had remained tight-lipped about who would fill the spot, but Mansoor Ijaz, one of the team’s new investors. says that the Nico Hulkenberg is finalizing a contract to join the team.

The Ijaz is part of Quantum Motorsports, which is buying 35% of the Lotus team from Genii Capital.

"I wish the transition had been smoother between Kimi and the next driver, who we believe will be Nico Hulkenberg, but sometimes in life things don't happen so clearly and as nicely as you would like them to,” said Ijaz.

"I can tell you the contract was prepared and ready to go. I know Nico is excited about doing this and I think it is a matter of a very short period before that is all finalized."

Hulkenberg moved from karts to open-wheel cars in 2005. He moved up the ranks from Formula BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
8471 photos
43 videos
through Formula 3 to GP2, where he was champion in 2009. He joined WilliamsWilliamsUnited Kingdom, 1977 > present37 models
255 photos
in Formula 1 in 2010 and test drove for Force IndiaForce IndiaIndia, 2007 > present8 models
118 photos
in 2011. He returned to the F1 grid driving for Force India in 2012. For 2013, he moved to SauberSauberSwitzerland, 1970 > present21 models
166 photos
4 videos
.

Source: Autosport