Valtteri Bottas has revealed that he has a “priority” regarding his Formula 1 prospects in 2025 but hinted that he is waiting on Carlos Sainz’s decision to make a move.
Bottas doesn’t retain a deal with Sauber next term and it is guaranteed that either he or team-mate Zhou Guanyu will not remain next term as Nico Hulkenberg arrives.
Sauber has been open it’s pursuing Carlos Sainz as it prepares to transition into Audi in 2026, but the Hinwil-based squad faces competition from Williams and Alpine.
Sainz looked to be closing on a move to Williams last weekend until Alpine registered an interest in partnering the outgoing Ferrari driver with incumbent Pierre Gasly.
Bottas has divulged that movement in the driver market has stalled again over the past week, meaning that there is no update on where he will be racing next season.
“Unfortunately, nothing big to announce,” Bottas said in Austria. “Or nothing to announce.
“I was hoping there would be decisions made earlier this week, but deadlines got pushed back again. So, that’s the situation, nothing new from last weekend.”
Bottas has stated that he is “100 per cent” committed to remaining in F1 and has been taking a prominent role in discussions to resolve his future past this campaign.
“I’ve been active, less so in the race weekend, because I want to focus on my job, and we need to start scoring. That’s the main thing now.
“But on my days off, I’ve been active with my management, with different teams, including this team over.
“So obviously, kind of waiting for one piece to fall into place. And then it should all happen pretty quick.”
Asked whether he had made up his mind, Bottas replied: “Absolutely. I’ve got my priority and my order which I can’t tell you but yeah for me it’s pretty clear what I want.”
However, the Finn echoed Kevin Magnussen’s comments last week that the drivers without contracts are awaiting an outcome to the Sainz saga to complete deals.
“Because somebody else first has to decide where he’s going and that’s gonna decide that puzzle, basically, how it’s gonna fall,” he added.
Bottas has expressed on multiple occasions that he is convinced he will remain on the F1 grid, but he has admitted that there is a risk he could be left without a seat.
“There’s always the danger, but I see, I mean, yeah,” he acknowledged.
“I’m still confident that I’ll be here next year in one of the seats, but obviously, like I said, I think last weekend in this sport, until you’re signed, nothing is confirmed.
“You can always have talks and stuff, but until the pen hits the paper, nothing is confirmed.
“So there’s that element as well, but I’m not too worried based on at least from my understanding where we are.”
Bottas has conceded that it’s a strange phenomenon to have his future rest on the decision another driver takes, but it’s one that he has now become accustomed to.
“For me, initially, it was a bit weird why one driver will decide everything but now from my recent understanding there’s reasons for it,” he explained.
“As you know this sport is not always fair there’s other things as well than just pure performance.”
Discussion about this post