Valtteri Bottas, the 34-year-old Finnish driver, is yet to secure a seat for the 2025 season. Time is running out for him as his options continue to dwindle. His preference is to stay with Sauber, which will become Audi’s factory team from 2026. Bottas is hopeful that the new management of the German automotive giant will offer him a new contract.
Leading up to the Dutch Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas explained that he began negotiations after the Belgian race weekend. A brief conversation took place at Spa-Francorchamps with the new team leadership of the future Audi. Despite being sidelined in recent months, the team now seems to have developed an interest in the ten-time race winner.
“For the past six months, it felt like I wasn’t really a top priority,” Valtteri Bottas explained. “Of course, another driver was already secured before they spoke to me (Nico Hülkenberg). The team has truly explored all options, sometimes with little communication. But now it feels different. There has been a clear reset and there is now a clear structure at the top.”
Mattia Binotto’s Role in the Audi Project
Valtteri Bottas specifically refers to former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, who has taken a leading role in the Audi project. CEO Andreas Seidl had to step aside. “We have gotten to know each other better now,” Bottas said about Binotto. “We were competitors when I was at Mercedes and he was at Ferrari. But I think he respects me. I have a lot of respect for him anyway, so that’s a good starting point for conversations.”
Carlos Sainz’s Move to Williams
The recent announcement of Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams may have increased Valtteri Bottas’s chances. The Spaniard was linked to Sauber several times. “It definitely means there’s one less driver,” Bottas responded. “So for me, that’s always positive.” When does the Finn himself expect to present a new contract? “We’re already in August, almost September,” he concluded. “The sooner the better, although I know how things can sometimes go in Formula 1.”
Looking Forward
As the Formula 1 season progresses, the moves and changes within the teams continue to create a dynamic and unpredictable environment. With the respect and understanding between Bottas and Binotto, there is a positive foundation for future discussions and potential collaborations.
