Sauber F1 driver Valtteri Bottas says he is “confident” of securing a place on the 2025 grid, although he acknowledges that he needs to move quickly.
Bottas stated that he is “confident” about finding a spot for the 2025 season and expects to make a decision in the coming weeks.
The 2025 driver market largely depends on Carlos Sainz’s choice as he exits Ferrari, with the Spaniard having to decide between a long-term contract at Sauber – which will become Audi in 2026 – and Williams.
Among the free agents yet to announce deals, Sainz is the most prominent, and his indecision is impacting some of his peers, particularly current Sauber drivers Bottas and Guanyu Zhou.
It is clear that both drivers have slim chances of staying with Sauber/Audi beyond 2024, but Bottas could still remain if team CEO Andreas Seidl fails to secure his primary target Sainz.
At Williams, Bottas is also considered a backup option should Sainz join, with team principal Jost Capito pushing hard for the Spaniard, while the Finn has been in talks with Alpine and Haas.
As time passes and other teams prepare to make their decisions rather than wait indefinitely, Bottas realizes he must act soon to avoid missing opportunities.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“I think I need to make a choice pretty soon,” Bottas acknowledged in Canada. “I haven’t signed anything yet, but I’m still looking at all the options, and it needs to happen pretty soon. (Audi) is willing to wait a little bit longer. But I can’t wait forever, so the team is definitely still an option, but I don’t have time to wait too long, so I want to push things forward.”
When asked by Autosport if there was a possibility of him leaving the paddock altogether, he replied, “I’m confident of getting a seat, but obviously in this sport, nothing is certain until it’s signed. So, there’s never a hundred percent guarantee before you sign. But for now, I’m not worried. The next couple of weeks will be interesting for sure.”
Bottas mentioned that his experience with one-year contracts alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes has prepared him for handling uncertainties.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber C44
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
“You get used to it,” he explained. “Of course, it feels more comfortable when you have a confirmed future, but in uncertainty, exciting new things can also happen, and that’s nice too. If you look back at the times when I had confirmation from the team, it’s still quite early this season. So, if something could be decided before the summer break in August, that would be great.”
Zhou also believes he remains in contention for seats at Haas and Alpine, vying for the same opportunities as his more experienced counterparts.
“I think all the seats are still open. We’re discussing my future, but nothing is decided yet. I believe there will still be a place for me in the paddock, but I don’t know where. I really don’t want to be a reserve driver because after a year off, it’s hard to come back to F1,” Zhou said.
Translation by Chloe
