Valtteri Bottas, the 34-year-old Finnish driver, is one of seven racers yet to secure a seat for 2025. Like many others, he awaits the decisive word from Carlos Sainz before signing a new contract. Despite being one of the older drivers on the grid, Bottas remains unfazed as he navigates the ‘risky’ driver’s market.
Following the race weekend in England, the Finnish driver was asked about his future in Formula 1. Bottas, who debuted 11 years ago with Williams, has had a successful stint as the second driver at Mercedes before joining Sauber in 2022. When asked about his future in the premier class, Bottas responded affirmatively after the British Grand Prix. “Absolutely,” he said, “I have my priorities sorted and know exactly where I would like to drive. A few teams have caught my interest, and I know the order in which I would place them. I can’t share anything right now, but for me, it’s pretty clear what I want.”
Bottas Awaits Sainz’s Decision
Valtteri Bottas admits that he is waiting for Carlos Sainz, a driver who is in demand at Sauber, Williams, and Alpine. “There is a certain driver who needs to make a decision first,” he joked. “That will determine what is possible.” Bottas’ teammate, Guanyu Zhou, is also waiting for a decision from Sainz’s camp. He is starting to get a little tired of the Spaniard holding all the cards.
‘Risky’
Bottas is not considering a future outside of Formula 1. “In this sport, nothing is certain until you’ve signed – discussions are nice, but it’s about getting something on paper,” he explained. “Of course, the driver market is always risky, but I’m confident that I can secure a seat for next year. I’m not too worried.”
It is expected that Bottas will not be offered a new contract at Sauber. The Swiss team has already signed Nico Hülkenberg for 2025 and is still eyeing Carlos Sainz. For Williams, Bottas is an interesting option. The Finn is familiar with Grove and brings a lot of experience in place of Logan Sargeant.
