With the 2024 Components 1 season winding down, there are just a few small issues of enterprise left to be determined concerning the 2025 driver grid.
A type of seats? The second spot at Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg. Whereas the staff has already confirmed Nico Hülkenberg can be in a type of seats — giving the group a German driver forward to the staff changing into the Audi works operation in 2026 — the second seat remains to be but to be confirmed.
Valtteri Bottas, the veteran driver presently driving for the staff alongside Zhou Guanyu, stays one of many drivers in rivalry for that spot. However with Bottas and Sauber but to attain some extent this season, and younger Franco Colapinto performing effectively after becoming a member of the grid midseason with Williams, there’s a probability that Bottas may very well be left on the skin wanting in.
Talking with the media forward of this weekend’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, Bottas conceded {that a} return to Mercedes, as a reserve driver, is likely to be a backup plan for him.
“Firstly, the precedence is to remain as a race driver, that’s what I would like, and that’s what I’m pushing for with Mattia [Binotto, the recently-named CEO at Audi],” stated Bottas to the official F1 channel in Mexico Metropolis. “However, after all, as I don’t have something signed – we’re in October – I’ve acquired to have a look at all of the alternate options together with going again to the Mercedes household. That’s for certain one possibility and I might contemplate it.”
Bottas additionally indicated that he was in virtually “day by day” contact with Binotto concerning each a possible contract, in addition to technical stuff with the staff’s automobile, and the ball is in Sauber’s court docket.
“We’re in an virtually day by day foundation, preserving in contact with Mattia – typically about technical stuff, typically concerning the future,” added Bottas. “We’ve fairly effectively agreed all the things when it comes to the phrases and stuff like that. Now it’s simply, the ball is of their camp so I’ll hold ready and doing my job.”
Forward of final week’s United States Grand Prix Bottas informed SB Nation in an unique interview that when there’s information, we’ll hear information.
“Individuals can count on information when there’s some information,” shared Bottas forward of the US Grand Prix. “Clearly, I’ve been in discussions with the staff for a very long time. We’re looking for the proper settlement. So yeah, nonetheless nothing to announce this weekend for certain. Nonetheless engaged on it. However, yeah, at all times making progress and I’m at all times staying optimistic.
“So ultimately, we’ll all know.”
