Valtteri Bottas anticipates significant activity in the 2024 market, with several drivers currently on expiring contracts. The Finnish driver aims to secure his future in the early stages of next season.
Bottas enjoyed a fairytale start with Alfa Romeo in 2022, making regular Q3 appearances and points finishes. Given his departure from Mercedes, the 34-year-old seemed to be making a very smooth transition into the midfield.
When combined with a series of encouraging performances from Zhou Guanyu, the Swiss outfit received plenty of praise last year. However, things can change quickly in Formula 1 – and the narrative is now very different.
After producing an underperforming C42 machine, Sauber failed to compete for major honours. They barely finished ahead of a struggling Haas, finishing 9th as AlphaTauri and Williams out-developed them.
For Bottas and Zhou, this has negatively impacted their driver market value. After all, top 10 finishes are often necessary to become a sought-after commodity in F1’s “silly season.”
With Audi’s entry pending, there are questions about their driver line-up for 2026. Whatever the team’s intentions are, it seems plausible that decisions are made for 2025 to prepare for the manufacturer’s arrival.
Amidst this uncertain climate, Valtteri Bottas has clear aims:
“It’s interesting times in F1, obviously,” he told The Daily Express.
“I think there’s actually many drivers without contracts, so it’s going to be quite interesting to follow how things fall into place.
“For me, the goal is clear. I definitely want to be part of the Audi project.”
There have already been conversations between Sauber and Nico Hulkenberg, which could have a direct impact on 2025. The decision to offer Zhou a one-year extension this summer is indicative of the team’s different long-term considerations.
Theo Pourchaire is also waiting for an opportunity in Formula 1, preparing to spend a year in SuperFormula to further bolster his résumé.
With at least two options to consider, Sauber could pursue several driver combinations over the next twelve months.
