Former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas joined Sauber for the 2022 season with a strong two-year contract. This contract allowed Sauber to keep him alongside his teammate, Zhou Guanyu, for this year.
Bottas mentioned that if Sauber wants to renew his contract again, it might indicate that he’s secured a seat with Audi. Audi is buying out the Swiss team completely.
Although there were rumors that Sauber might not want to keep Bottas for 2024, he says he’s starting to discuss a possible move to Audi in 2026.
He said, “I’m slowly, slowly getting the ball rolling. But nothing fundamental yet. I think we need a few more races this season, and hopefully, with good results, things will move forward a bit more.”
With Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari in 2025 and uncertainty about Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull, Bottas knows there’s a risk he might not find a seat.
“That’s why you need to try and be one step ahead,” he said. “That’s what my management is working on in the background… I focus on driving, and I have people working behind the scenes, trying to understand the market and explore different options if needed.”
Bottas, who has won ten Grand Prix races, wants to get back to fighting at the front. He ended 2021 in third place with Mercedes but finished 10th and 15th in his two full seasons with Sauber.
“I don’t want to put a number on how many years I have left,” he said. “I still feel like I have a lot to give and a lot to achieve. My motivation now is to get back closer to the top. I miss that feeling of fighting towards the front. Being part of Audi could give me that opportunity, so that’s interesting for me.”
He believes Audi’s complete buyout of Sauber, which dispels rumors about Audi’s commitment to F1, provides employees with security and a clear plan.
Now in his 12th season, Bottas believes his experience is valuable in negotiations for a seat.
“Experience is important in the sport,” he said. “Also, when there are regulation changes, you need to be adaptable. The more experience you have, the better you can adapt. I hope that’s my strength. They should also know that I’m a good team player.”
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