Bottas: My priority is Audi and I think I have a chance

Valtteri Bottas’ three-year contract with Sauber expires in 2024 and the Finnish driver has no agreements with Formula 1 teams for the following years. Speaking to the Australian press at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, he made no secret of his desire to continue working with the team from Hinwil, Switzerland.

In 2026 it will become a factory team of Audi, and preparations for this are already in full swing, including recently it became known that the German company plans to completely take over all assets of the Sauber Group. Of course, with such attractive prospects, Bottas would like to extend the contract with his current employers, but it is not a fact that this will happen.

“This is not the first time I have been in this situation,” Valtteri stressed, meaning this is the last year of his current contract. – But honestly, there is no difference for me, because of course I always strive to show what I am capable of. I really want to stay with this team. I want to close the gap with the leaders, fight for normal results, and I see that the Audi project can provide such an opportunity.

In my opinion it is always interesting when a major car manufacturer comes to Formula 1. I think I have a chance and Audi is my priority now. But if it doesn’t work out, I think there are plenty of other options on the pilot market for next year.”

Bottas will be 36 years old when the Audi team enters Formula 1, but he does not think age will stop him from staying in Formula 1: “I don’t count the years because I think my time in Formula 1 won’t be. will end soon. I am now 34 and Fernando Alonso is 42, and he can be considered a good reference.”

Valtteri made his World Cup debut in 2013 with Williams, and then competed for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, taking 10 wins. From 2022 he became a driver for Sauber, then called Alfa Romeo, and his best result driving a car for this team was 5th place, which he achieved that season in Imola.