Valtteri Bottas strongly implied that he’ll rescue his F1 profession by staying at Sauber subsequent season.
Two race seats stay vacant earlier than the 2025 F1 driver line-up is full, and one in every of them belongs to Sauber who’ve signed Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg for his or her different automotive.
Which means both Bottas or teammate Zhou Guanyu will lose their spot – however the former Mercedes veteran seems more likely to cling on.
Bottas was requested on the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix whether or not he stays “99%” assured of staying, and he replied: “Sure.”
Is he in talks with different motorsport sequence as a contingency plan?
“Not anymore,” he confirmed.
Bottas stated concerning the standing of his talks with Sauber: “Nonetheless speaking. Progressing. I’m nonetheless constructive.
“I shouldn’t actually say a lot, however that’s the place we’re.
“There are nonetheless many issues to debate. Each events should be comfortable. However we’re getting into the suitable route.”
The choice for Sauber appeared to hinge on whether or not they want the expertise of Bottas or the potential of a rookie.
Gabriel Bortoleto is among the many F2 drivers strongly linked with a promotion into F1.
“Sure, I feel it’s fairly simple,” Bottas admitted about Sauber’s consideration.
“I don’t wish to say extra, however you’ve obtained an concept of the state of affairs.
“My power is expertise and what I can carry to the group.”
He continued: “It’s not odd, it’s simply the game. I really feel like I’m in state of affairs in the meanwhile.
“I can’t let you know extra.
“It’s fairly clear what I would like, and hopefully we’ll get there quickly.”
Sauber are the one F1 group to haven’t scored a single level this season. Bottas and Zhou are rooted on the foot of the drivers’ standings.
Bottas was requested if his automotive’s lack of competitiveness has nearly value him his F1 profession.
“This sport is unfair,” he stated. “I’ve seen that many instances. I’m in a troublesome state of affairs due to the efficiency of the automotive.
“Mattia is aware of what he can get from me. Hopefully I’ll be right here subsequent 12 months, the automotive will likely be higher, and I can present a bit extra.”
Mattia Binotto, the previous Ferrari group principal, has joined forward of the group’s evolution into Audi in 2026.
Bottas stated concerning the new boss: “He has realized that there’s a large mountain to climb, it received’t be a simple street.
“Now we have constructed relationship, good respect, each methods.
“We catch up recurrently about technical stuff and group personnel. He has been studying lots however is now beginning to take motion.
“He’s beginning to get a transparent image of what we want.
“We’d like actions, we want change. The final two years issues have been going downhill so one thing wants to alter.”
