Valtteri Bottas has acknowledged the tough situation Sauber finds itself in during the 2024 Formula 1 season but remains determined to help the team end its pointless run. As the season enters the summer break, Sauber sits at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship, the only team yet to score a single point.
This marks a stark contrast to the team’s performance at the start of the new ground-effect regulations in 2022 when Sauber secured 51 points in the first nine rounds. However, since then, the team has only managed to collect 20 points across 49 rounds, as its early advantage evaporated with the competition reaching the minimum weight limit.
Bottas, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has reiterated that the team’s upcoming transformation into Audi for 2026 has impacted its current performance. Despite the challenges, he insists that the team is motivated to turn its fortunes around.
Reflecting on the current situation, Bottas stated, “It’s not great, if I’m honest. Especially when you look at the standings; it just doesn’t look like it should be. But we still have halfway to go, and now even getting one point would be something.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Bottas emphasized that his motivation remains high. “Even to get one point, that’s now the motivation for the whole team,” he said. “I still need to keep motivated and do my absolute best no matter the circumstances.”
With Sauber’s lack of pace forcing the team to adopt bold strategies in a bid to score points, Bottas is hopeful that the upcoming updates will bring them closer to the midfield. “Let’s see now with the new package if that brings us closer, and hopefully we don’t have to be as radical with strategy to score points,” he added.
As Sauber looks ahead to the second half of the season, both the team and Bottas are focused on making the most of every opportunity to break their points drought and regain some competitive momentum.
Photo from Valtteri Bottas Instagram
