Valtteri Bottas Reflects on Sauber Stint and Future Aspirations in F1
Short Description:
Valtteri Bottas shares his regret over the decision to join Sauber, reflecting on a challenging tenure and his hopes for a potential F1 return amid team changes.
Read Time: 4 minutes 30 seconds
Main Article:
In a candid assessment of his tenure with Sauber, Valtteri Bottas has expressed disappointment over his three-year stint with the team, particularly following a disappointing finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Finnish driver, after suffering a collision with Kevin Magnussen, stated simply, “My move to Sauber in 2022 was a mistake.” This statement encapsulates the struggles Bottas faced, highlighting how his initial optimism quickly dissolved over the following seasons. Bottas noted, “Everything started off well in the first year, but since then, it was [all] downhill.”
Bottas’s transition from a dominant five-year experience at Mercedes to a struggling Sauber team was significantly influenced by the presence of their former team principal, Fred Vasseur. The two had established a strong rapport, with Bottas believing in a structured plan for the next three years. However, the departure of Vasseur to Ferrari marked a turning point: “Those plans and targets went into the bin when he left,” Bottas lamented. This change dramatically impacted the team’s dynamics, leading to a steep decline in performance. In 2022, Bottas recorded a commendable tenth-place finish in the championship, but the following seasons saw a sharp decline, culminating in a scoreless 2024.
As Bottas prepares for free agency, the future remains uncertain. His initial inclination to leave Sauber was quelled by Audi’s assurances of his importance to their upcoming project. With veteran Nico Hulkenberg and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto slated to replace him and teammate Zhou Guanyu, Bottas’s path could include a return to Mercedes as a reserve driver in 2025. His sights are also set on new opportunities with Cadillac entering F1 by 2026, as he aims to remain active in racing and pursue any openings that may arise. Bottas stated, “I still need to keep driving, make sure I get some testing. Be involved.” His persistence indicates a desire to capitalize on any opportunity within the evolving landscape of Formula 1.
Short Summary:
Valtteri Bottas’s tenure at Sauber proved challenging and filled with regret as he reflects on missed opportunities and a declining performance trajectory. As he approaches free agency, he hopes to remain active in F1, eyeing potential roles with Cadillac and a return to Mercedes in the near future.
