Salo: Audi is the only reasonable option for Bottas

Mika Salo, former Formula 1 driver, still follows the World Championship closely, partly because he periodically acts as an FIA steward and also works as an expert with TV channel Viaplay.

In an interview with Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, Salo said that Valtteri Bottas does not have much choice if he plans to stay in F1: “Audi is the best option for Valtteri. He knows this team, knows the people who work in it. But the team will also benefit from his experience. So this is the only reasonable scenario.”

At the same time, Mika recalls his own experience, as he and Alan McNish were once the first drivers to compete for the Toyota factory team when it first entered Formula 1.

“When I moved to Toyota, there was nothing there. It wasn’t easy, and then I was fired after the first season,” he said. “But I hope Valtteri can take advantage of all the benefits that come with being part of the factory project.

“There are still vacancies in other teams for 2025, including talks about Alpine, but I don’t see the point in moving there. It’s better to stay in the team where he plays for now. We spoke to him in Hungary, but I didn’t ask him any questions about this topic because I know he wouldn’t tell me anything anyway!”

When Bottas’ career ends at the end of this year, it will also bring an end to the very long period in which Finnish drivers competed in Formula 1, which began in 1989, when JJ Lehto made his debut in the championship.

But Mika Salo is optimistic: “We can assume that Valtteri will sign a two-year contract with Audi. And then Tuukka Taponen will be ready to move to Formula 1, and then this series of years will not be interrupted.”

Taponen is now 17 years old, he is one of the students of the Ferrari Racing Academy and this year he is participating in the European Formula Regional, and quite successfully. After six stages (each consisting of two races) he is 2nd in the individual competition and has already four victories to his name.