Sauber, now known as Stake F1 Team, will bid farewell to Valtteri Bottas in 2025. The Swiss racing team announced on Wednesday that the Finnish driver will not be offered a contract extension. Sauber thanks Bottas for his commitment over the past three years, but with the impending takeover by Audi, they wish to proceed with a completely new line-up. Nico Hülkenberg has already secured a seat, and according to sources, the announcement of a second driver is ‘imminent’.
Valtteri Bottas joined Sauber after five successful years at Mercedes, where he also won ten races. His years of experience were of great value to the team. In 2022, the Swiss racing team, partly thanks to Bottas, achieved sixth place in the championship. In the current season, the team was renamed Stake F1 Team. The cars received a striking new livery, but real successes were lacking. Both Valtteri Bottas and teammate Guanyu Zhou have not scored any points in 2024.”This situation is not easy for anyone,” Valtteri Bottas responded in an official press release. “The team and I have had good and in-depth conversations over the past few weeks. It has become clear that we cannot continue to grow together.” Reportedly, Sauber is more interested in young drivers. “These years with the team have been a special journey full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments,” Bottas concluded. “I am grateful for everything we have experienced and the trust I have received along the way.”
Who will replace Bottas?
Sauber’s top executive, Mattia Binotto, former team boss at Ferrari, thanked Bottas for his years of dedication. “His professional attitude and experience have helped the team get through a crucial period,” he responded. “He has regularly pushed the car to its limits. Although we would have liked to see him as a candidate for the future, we mutually concluded after our conversations that we could not meet each other’s conditions.”
According to the usually well-informed F1 insider, Formula 2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto is in pole position to sign a contract with Sauber. The German medium suggests that an official announcement is ‘imminent’. The young Brazilian is currently leading in the junior championship.
