Valtteri Bottas has been reticent on reports linking him with a return to the Williams Formula 1 team in 2025 amid a secret meeting with boss James Vowles at Imola.
Bottas has voiced his intention to remain with Sauber as it gears up towards Audi’s arrival in 2026, but the German marque appears to be wanting a brand-new line-up.
Sauber announced earlier this month that it has prised Nico Hulkenberg from Haas, while the Hinwil-based squad has been open that Carlos Sainz is a leading option.
Bottas disclosed in Miami that he has been talking with other teams to safeguard his own future in the sport, with several seats towards the back of the grid available.
The Finn declared last week that he was certain he would remain in the series next season before being spotted walking into the Williams motorhome at the weekend.
Speculation suggested that he held a 15-minute conversation with Williams Team Principal Vowles, who is assessing the candidates to partner alongside Alex Albon.
When asked how often he spoke to his former teams, Bottas replied: “Sometimes!
“[James] is a good friend of mine. I ran out of coffee in our motorhome, so I needed to get some from there!”
Bottas made his F1 debut with Williams in 2013 and remained with the British outfit until he was handpicked to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in 2017.
Regarding what his conversation with Vowles comprised, Bottas remained tight-lipped as he highlighted that it was a standard procedure to commit to as a free agent.
“[It was] normal things, about life!” he said. “Of course, when you’re on the free market, you want to check around what’s out there.
“It’s a pretty normal situation being you’re on the free market.”
Meanwhile, Vowles, who has conceded that the struggling Logan Sargeant is “at risk”, divulged that he is weighing up three concrete options to place in the vacant seat.
“I’m looking and, at the moment, it’s about three options for 2025/’26, it’s as simple as that,” Vowles revealed.
“When we’re in a position where I can talk about it openly, which won’t be long, we will do.
“But, for now, the direction of travel is we know that we need to be performing at the highest level.
“Logan has control in his hands, making sure he’s performing at that level. That’s his ability to control.
“I haven’t taken that away from him. But what’s clear is we also need to be talking to others. And we are.”
