77 Valtteri Bottas, (FIN) Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber during the Hungarian GP, Budapest 18-21 July 2024 Formula 1 World championship 2024.
Formula 1 IndyCar Rumors

Formula 1 Rumor: Bottas considers step down to IndyCar (Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

A step-down to IndyCar could be a “good option” for the future, former F1 driver Valtteri Bottas admits after being put out to pasture by the #1 form of motorsports in the world – F1.

The 35-year-old Finn lost his race seat at Sauber at the end of last season, and has returned to Mercedes to serve as the full-time reserve driver.

He is already linked with the new Cadillac team for 2026.

“There are a lot of opportunities on the driver market at the moment,” Bottas is quoted as saying by the Dutch publication Formule 1.

“You always think about that, especially if you stay connected to Formula 1. But next year still feels a long way off at the moment.

“On the other hand, the season will be halfway through in no time,” he added. “So of course I have to think about next year, but for now it is still a bit too early. Still, it motivates me to work hard.”

However, if Cadillac opts against Bottas for 2026, the winner of 10 grands prix admits he might start to look beyond F1.

“The first priority is Formula 1,” he insists. “But then I have to consider the alternatives. Then IndyCar would definitely be a good option, although I’m not really thinking about it at the moment.

“I’m really focused on Formula 1 now, but it’s difficult to predict the future. Maybe next year I’ll still be in the same role I am in now.

“At the moment everything is wide open and I’m just grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity to come back to the team.”

September 24, 2024 

Reporting from the paddock after the Singapore GP qualifying, Ted Kravitz said despite rumors of the Valtteri Bottas signing a new Sauber F1 contract, the Sky Sports reporter’s sources tell him that Bottas is most certainly headed away from F1 to race down in IndyCar.

The Sauber driver is currently negotiating to extend his current contract which expires at the end of 2024. With Audi set to take over in 2026, they have signed Nico Hulkenberg as one of their drivers, leaving just one seat vacant. According to reports, the Swiss team is also looking at rookies like Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto for that seat.

In such a case, Kravitz is confident Bottas will have to switch discipline and take up an IndyCar seat across the pond. He said during the Ted’s Qualifying Notebook segment,

“Bottas is looking more like getting a drive in IndyCar, maybe with Logan Sargeant next year, rather than being a Sauber/Audi driver.”

It could be a good move for Bottas, who has been struggling at the back of the grid due to Sauber’s underperformance. The #77 driver has stated he is pushing hard to improve his qualifying and race performances. However, the Swiss team’s car has been dead last in the pecking order, limiting his ability to even score points.