With the 2024 Method 1 season winding down, there are just a few small issues of enterprise left to be determined relating to the 2025 driver grid.
A kind of seats? The second spot at Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg. Whereas the crew has already confirmed Nico Hülkenberg will probably be in a kind of seats — giving the group a German driver forward to the crew changing into the Audi works operation in 2026 — the second seat remains to be but to be confirmed.
Valtteri Bottas, the veteran driver at present driving for the crew alongside Zhou Guanyu, stays one of many drivers in rivalry for that spot. However with Bottas and Sauber but to attain a degree this season, and younger Franco Colapinto performing properly after becoming a member of the grid midseason with Williams, there’s a likelihood that Bottas may very well be left on the skin trying 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, may 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],” mentioned 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 received to have a look at all of the alternate options together with going again to the Mercedes household. That’s for positive one choice and I’d think about it.”
Bottas additionally indicated that he was in virtually “each day” contact with Binotto relating to each a possible contract, in addition to technical stuff with the crew’s automobile, and the ball is in Sauber’s court docket.
“We’re in an virtually each day foundation, preserving in contact with Mattia – typically about technical stuff, typically in regards to the future,” added Bottas. “We’ve fairly properly agreed the whole lot when it comes to the phrases and stuff like that. Now it’s simply, the ball is of their camp so I’ll maintain ready and doing my job.”
Forward of final week’s United States Grand Prix Bottas advised SB Nation in an unique interview that when there’s information, we’ll hear information.
“Folks can anticipate information when there’s some information,” shared Bottas forward of america Grand Prix. “Clearly, I’ve been in discussions with the crew for a very long time. We’re looking for the suitable settlement. So yeah, nonetheless nothing to announce this weekend for positive. Nonetheless engaged on it. However, yeah, all the time making progress and I’m all the time staying constructive.
“So finally, we’ll all know.”
