Valtteri Bottas could be at the end of his Formula 1 career after Audi booted the Finn out of Sauber, and he admits to making a ‘stupid’ decision in talks about a 2025 seat.
The 35-year-old has enjoyed a seat on the grid since Bottas made his F1 debut with Williams back at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix. But when the pinnacle of motorsport starts the 2025 campaign in Melbourne next March, the Finn will likely only be watching from the sidelines.
Audi will turn Sauber into its factory team to debut in Formula 1 in the 2026 season. But the German automotive giant is already hands-on in Hinwil turning the Swiss squad into its team with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto taking Zhou Guanyu and Bottas’ seats next year.
Valtteri Bottas was ‘stupid’ to hang on to his seat at Audi/Sauber
F1 will see a host of changes to most of the team’s driver line-ups in 2025 beyond Formula 2 title contender Bortoleto and current Haas star Hulkenberg joining Sauber. Lewis Hamilton is joining Ferrari, Carlos Sainz is moving to Williams and Esteban Ocon is taking a drive at Haas.
Like Sauber with Bortoleto, Alpine, Haas and Mercedes will also introduce young faces to F1 with Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Bottas has confirmed that he spoke to other teams about a potential move in 2025 but those talks did not advance much.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin
Instead, Bottas was ‘very interested’ in staying at Sauber and helping to mould Audi’s debut in F1. Yet hanging on to a seat at Sauber was ‘stupid’ as it left him out in the cold when Audi said no. Now, it is expected that Bottas will return to Mercedes as a reserve driver next year.
“Life goes on. There are lots of exciting things ahead of me,” Bottas said during the pre-race press conference ahead of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. “It’s obviously stupid when you’re hanging on to the last free spot because if that doesn’t work out, then you’re out.”
Bottas added that he also spoke with other teams about a drive on the 2025 Formula 1 grid but “it didn’t go much further”. He continued: “I was very interested in the Audi project but it wasn’t meant to be.
“I still have a lot to give and I love the sport. I have to figure out my way forward now, but there are lots of interesting things.”
Toto Wolff wants Valtteri Bottas back at Mercedes as a reserve driver and advisor
Bottas joined Sauber in the 2022 season while the Swiss crew operated as Alfa Romeo after five years at Mercedes. He traded the Silver Arrows for life in Switzerland as Sauber issued a three-year contract, having only ever driven with single-season deals while with Mercedes.
READ MORE: F1 2025 driver line-up with every team’s confirmed entry for the grid
Now, Bottas is on course to return to Mercedes next year as a reserve driver to the man who took his seat, George Russell, plus 18-year-old sensation Antonelli. Team principal Toto Wolff wants Bottas back at Mercedes as an advisor, as well, as he thinks his experience can help.
It was whilst at Mercedes that Bottas enjoyed the best results of his Formula 1 career which has so far featured 244 Grand Prix entries before the 2024 Las Vegas GP. The Finn took all 10 of his Grand Prix wins, all 20 of his pole positions and 58 of his 67 podiums for Mercedes.
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