Oct.16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas thinks his repute in Method 1 was broken by his three post-Mercedes seasons at Sauber.
The Finn admits leaving Mercedes enhanced his enjoyment of his non-F1 life-style, declaring to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “I attempt to not take issues too severely anymore.”
However not being centered on beating Lewis Hamilton and attempting to win titles has its draw back as nicely. When requested if his lack of success at Sauber has harmed his probabilities of a brand new contract for 2025, the 34-year-old answered: “It actually didn’t assist.
“Whenever you’re preventing on the entrance, you’re within the highlight,” Bottas added. “So the previous few years have in all probability carried out a bit of harm to my profession.”
Bottas’ present race seat at Sauber, now one hundred pc owned by Audi, is the final emptiness for 2025. The ten-time grand prix winner, who has failed to attain a single level up to now this season, admits he has no ‘plan B’.
“Not but,” mentioned Bottas, who has been linked with a possible transfer to Indycar.
“I believe I can nonetheless think about plan A,” he added. “I all the time keep optimistic and hope that it really works out. I don’t have any alternate options in thoughts but and hope that I don’t want them.”
The F1 world left Singapore not too long ago believing that Audi-Sauber had provided Bottas a one-year deal for 2025 – in all probability with a hefty pay-cut.
However all of the sudden, new Audi F1 boss Mattia Binotto is admitting that Mick Schumacher is “positively” an choice to be Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate subsequent 12 months.
Bottas thinks Sauber ought to go for ultra-experience with him and 37-year-old Hulkenberg on the wheel of the 2025 automobiles.
“I do know Nico nicely,” Bottas mentioned. “We regularly meet on our travels. He additionally lives in Monaco. I believe we might make an excellent driver duo.
“For my part, the crew wants expertise in the mean time, and that clearly means two skilled drivers. So that might be an excellent match.
“I’d positively get pleasure from working with him.”
Nonetheless, since being dropped by Mercedes, there isn’t a doubt that not solely Bottas’ life-style modified – so did the notion of him inside the paddock.
He insists that he regrets “nothing”.
“I can actually say that I all the time gave my all,” mentioned Bottas. “I’ve all the time loved life as nicely, even once I was a bit extra reserved or careworn.”
Some imagine Bottas is now so centered on his biking pursuits, in addition to his business pursuits together with wine, gin and even nicotine pouches, that he has misplaced full deal with F1.
When requested if he’s not absolutely occupied with Method 1, Bottas insisted: “In fact I’m busy with Method 1.
“However these different initiatives are arrange in such a method that I can select how a lot time I wish to spend on them. I even have plenty of assist, so the workload is stored to a minimal. I merely get pleasure from it and do it with nice ardour.
“However I nonetheless discover the motivation I have to do my finest each weekend.”
