F1 News: Valtteri Bottas Sees "Opportunity" With Audi As Contract Expiry Looms
Despite his contract's impending expiry with Sauber, Valtteri Bottas has expressed a keen interest in Audi's forthcoming venture into Formula 1, seeing it as a crucial chance for career rejuvenation.
Key Takeaways:
- Despite a hiatus from the podium since his shift to Sauber, Bottas' ambition in F1 is undiminished.
- Bottas views Audi's full-scale entry into the sport as a pivotal moment for a competitive resurgence.
- Sauber's early struggles in the 2024 season haven't dampened Bottas' optimism, with vehicle upgrades on the horizon promising improved performance.
Sauber Press Image
Valtteri Bottas, whose illustrious career with Mercedes featured ten grand prix victories, has faced a more subdued phase since transitioning to Sauber in 2022, a period marked by an absence from the podium. Nevertheless, the Finnish driver's resolve is strong, buoyed by Audi's announced takeover of the Sauber team. This development, set to coincide with the introduction of new technical regulations in 2026, is viewed by Bottas as a significant turning point.
“I really want to carry on, and I really want to get closer to the top fighting for proper results,” Bottas admitted at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival ahead of the Australian Grand Prix as as quoted by Motorsportweek.com.
“And I see a big opportunity on the Audi project, which the team is becoming officially Audi in 2026.”
Bottas' confidence is not just in the potential of the team under Audi's stewardship but also in the broader landscape of F1's driver market.
“I think that is interesting always when you have a big manufacturer like that entering the sport. I think there is an opportunity for me.
“So that is the priority, but if for some reason if not, I think the drivers market is pretty wide open for next year.”
Sauber Press Image
Age, for Bottas, appears to be merely a number, with the driver drawing inspiration from Fernando Alonso's ongoing success in the sport.
“I don’t have a number, in terms of years, because I don’t see my time in F1 ending any time soon.
“So, I am now 34, and Fernando Alonso is 65 (laughs), so he is a pretty good reference that you can still perform.”
The start of the 2024 season has not been kind to Sauber, with its drivers struggling in the early races. Yet, Bottas remains hopeful, attributing some of the team's challenges to factors beyond their control and anticipating a boost from planned upgrades to the Sauber C44. Bottas concluded:
“In Saudi, I should have been in Q2 without the traffic in qualifying. So, I think we haven’t seen where we are [in the pecking order]. Melbourne is going to be better.
“We already have some upgrades coming to this weekend and the next race in Japan. So, let’s see, because a small improvement can really get you closer to the top 10.”