Valtteri Bottas, Finnish driver for Sauber, expressed his commitment to remain in Formula 1 in the near future. He sees Audi’s entry into the sport as a significant opportunity to return to the top of the grid. Bottas secured 10 victories during his time with Mercedes, but has not been able to reach the podium since joining Sauber. Despite this, he is not considering retirement and is excited about the future of the Swiss team. The full acquisition of Sauber by Audi in 2026, when new technical regulations will come into effect, may provide the platform for Bottas to compete for better results. He believes that having a major manufacturer like Audi entering the sport opens up opportunities for him. However, if the Audi project does not materialize, Bottas believes that the driver market for the upcoming year is open.
Bottas, who will turn 35 in August, points to Fernando Alonso’s continued success as evidence that age is not a barrier to good performance in Formula 1. He does not have a specific timeline for how long he wants to continue his career, as he does not see his time in Formula 1 ending anytime soon.
Sauber had a tough start to the 2024 season, with both drivers not scoring points and being eliminated in Q1 in the first two races. Bottas believes that external factors masked the true potential of the Sauber C44 package and is optimistic that upcoming upgrades will improve the team’s competitiveness. He believes that at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he could have made it to Q2 if it weren’t for traffic during qualifying. He is hoping for better results in the next race in Melbourne and is hopeful that small improvements can bring the team closer to the top 10.
© 2024
