Valtteri Bottas says he’ll “almost definitely” be in Formulation 1 subsequent season regardless of not having introduced a deal to stay on the grid past this 12 months.
There are solely two vacancies on the 2025 grid: one at Bottas’ Sauber workforce, the opposite at Purple Bull’s second workforce RB, which is predicted to go to both Daniel Ricciardo or Liam Lawson.
Sauber has already introduced Nico Hulkenberg will be part of them subsequent season, one 12 months earlier than their formal transition into the Audi manufacturing facility workforce from 2026. Ought to Bottas or youthful workforce mate Zhou Guanyu not be signed by the workforce for subsequent season, Sauber may have an all-new driver line up for 2025.
Talking forward of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, stated he’s not spending plenty of time contemplating what choices can be found to him if he fails to be retained by Sauber subsequent 12 months.
“I don’t assume it’s needed to consider that an excessive amount of now,” Bottas advised the official F1 channel. “I believe, for me, it’s very clear the place I wish to be and the place I almost definitely will probably be, which is in Formulation 1.”
Nonetheless he’s dedicated to racing someplace subsequent 12 months. “If not Formulation 1, I’ll positively race. I’m a racer and I’ve been racing all my life and I couldn’t simply stop racing.
“Plan B can be IndyCar – attempt to win the championship in ‘X quantity’ of years. However, I don’t assume that’s but.”
Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and
Bottas says he’s in common dialog with Audi’s F1 CEO Mattia Binotto concerning the workforce’s future plans and admitted that negotiating a possible contract extension takes some focus away from his race weekend.
“Simply the race weekend alone is numerous load on you – mentally and bodily,” he stated. “And sure, there’s all the time the contract state of affairs, which is an additional stress, let’s say.
“However issues are progressing. We’re nonetheless nearly in each day contact with Mattia, determining what every get together needs. That’s about it. I’m all the time optimistic, however now once more, it’s time to concentrate on the weekend reasonably than the contract.”
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a each day electronic mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising, no adverts. Join right here:
