“It is important to me to have that stability,” Valtteri Bottas seeking Alfa Romeo contract extension talks ‘quite early’ in 2023

“It is important to me to have that stability,” Valtteri Bottas seeking Alfa Romeo contract extension talks ‘quite early’ in 2023

Valtteri Bottas

2022 was a very different year for Valtteri Bottas when compared to the years preceding it, which he spent at Mercedes. At Mercedes, the threat of being replaced loomed at the end of every season, especially as he took a pretty secondary role in the team. The main man was clearly Lewis Hamilton. The Finn was only offered one-year contracts (extensions). This changed at Alfa Romeo, where he’s currently on a multi-year deal.

In addition to this, he was clearly the team leader this time around, as rookie Zhou Guanyu was still learning the ropes. He seems comfortable, and happier with his situation with the team. And he wants to stay there for the near future – as a consequence, he wants contract talks very soon. Having to worry about his future would’ve been a constant in his life at Mercedes, and no driver likes that.

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Speaking to Autosport, the Finnish driver stated that the contract extension would be a ‘talking point’ very early on in the year: “I’ve been in that situation so many times where it’s become a distraction. So yeah, for sure, it’s going to be a talking point hopefully quite early [in the year] on what’s going to happen. It is important to me to have that stability after 10 years [both at Williams and Mercedes] of not so much stability.”

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Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas

While they currently compete as Alfa Romeo, this title sponsorship will end after this season. Then, the team will be known as Sauber, that is, until they become Audi in 2026. These are exciting times for the Swiss outfit and its fans, and in the years following, there’ll be many changes to prepare for 2026. These changes are likely to make them even better, after they already showed considerable improvement in 2022, finishing P6 – their best finish since 2012.

Right now they’re still Alfa Romeo, but Valtteri Bottas expects changes at Sauber starting in 2024: “It is a great opportunity for the team, it brings stability and something new. But I think since then, people are talking less about it. We’re now just cracking on and obviously [in 2023], still nothing changes. We’re still Alfa Romeo. I think probably next year, things are going to start changing. But for now, it’s pretty stable and everyone is just focused on their job.”

Bottas has earlier indicated his willingness to stick around for the Audi ‘takeover’. Whether he can do that remains to be seen, but certainly, an extension is currently in sight for him – especially considering his performances in 2022. A German driver (perhaps like Mick Schumacher) is an attractive prospect for Audi, and Bottas will be a bit old by that time, even if it doesn’t necessarily mean he will decline. He’ll have to be on top of his game in 2023 (and the years following) to be in the mix when Audi comes.

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