F1: Bottas ‘of course’ eyeing Audi deal for 2026 (Update)

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits he hopes the rumbling 2025 driver market ‘silly season’ will not overlook him.

The Finn, having lost his seat as Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate after 2021, has subsequently become one of the lowest profile drivers on the entire grid – at least from the perspective of results.

Bottas, 34, has been busily developing his social media profile and non-F1 commercial interests, but he now faces another season at Sauber – an almost invisible team through the recent pre-season period despite its new neon green livery.

His contract runs out this year, with the Finn making no mistake that he hopes to stay in 2025 in preparation for the team’s transition to full works Audi status for 2026.

“My priority, as I’ve said before, is to be in the Audi project,” Bottas said in Bahrain. “For me this is the most tempting and ideal option.

“I feel like I don’t have to prove anything, but in sports you have to do it all the time because people have short memories. We had a difficult year last year and I wasn’t as visible on the track.

“I just hope people haven’t forgotten what I’ve already achieved – 67 podiums, 20 pole positions and so on. Not many drivers who will be available on the market can say that.”

There was a sudden burst in the 2025 driver market with Hamilton’s bombshell 2025 Ferrari deal, and Bottas expects another round of action shortly.

“Many drivers have contracts that are ending, including me,” he confirmed. “I want to start the season well, and then we’ll see. But yes, I expect that there will be a lot of movement in the market quite soon.

“Of course I have people around me who are already exploring the possibilities and looking for the best options for me. I just have to drive the car.”

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas is not hiding his desire to remain at Sauber as the Swiss team transitions to its works Audi future.

Some observers have been wondering if the experienced Finn, a former race winner at Mercedes, has been impressive enough at Sauber – currently known as Alfa Romeo – this year to secure an extended stay.

“I have a contract for sure until the end of next season,” Bottas, 33, told Iltalehti newspaper.

“For 2025, everything is completely open but it’s not time to talk about it yet. Things will start to take shape at the beginning of next year.”

Hinwil-based Sauber will have completed its full transition to Audi by 2026.

“Audi’s project is really interesting,” Bottas admits. “It’s the serious involvement of a big car manufacturer. Of course I want to be part of that project.”

He says Audi’s involvement will already start to take effect from 2024.

“Audi will bring a little financial support to the team already next year,” said Bottas. “The number of people in the team is now growing all the time.

“The team is being prepared so that everything will be ready in 2026.”

For now, Alfa Romeo is struggling – and ranked just ninth overall out of the ten teams.

“Before the start of the season, we set a goal of sixth place in the constructors’ championship, but now it’s clear that it won’t happen,” said Bottas.

“Our new goal is to be seventh at the end. It’s a realistic goal, but we will have to use every opportunity offered to us.”