Valtteri Bottas aims to ‘show his value’ to Audi for 2026 seat

Valtteri Bottas aims to secure his seat at Sauber once Audi takes over the team.

Valtteri Bottas aims to ‘show his value’ to Audi for 2026 seat

Valtteri Bottas [L], Audi F1 show car [R] (images via IMAGO)

Valtteri Bottas joined the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo F1 team in 2022. The Finnish driver has delivered consistent performances for the Swiss team. However, a question mark remains on Bottas’s future once Audi takes over the team in 2026. Now, Bottas has expressed his desire to stay with the team when it becomes Audi’s works F1 team.

The 34-year-old pointed out that Audi’s entry would be a continuation for the Finn if he stayed at the team in 2026. However, Valtteri Bottas pointed out that Sauber has not made any confirmations regarding the team’s driver lineup. The former Mercedes driver believes that the discussions would likely take place next year.

Audi will officially take over in 2026. Of course, that is an exciting project and would be a continuation of this project for me. But from the team side, there is no decision yet on what the driver pairing will look like after next year. I think these discussions will take place next year.
Valtteri Bottas told Motorsport-Magazin.com

Bottas hoped for the newly named Stake F1 team KICK Sauber to make progress in 2024. The 34-year-old highlighted that he would be looking to deliver some decent performances next season to show his worth to Audi. This would make the Finnish driver’s case stronger for a seat at the German team in 2026.

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I hope that we find a bit more pace and that I get a car that I can do something with. In this way, I want to show them [Audi] that my speed and experience would be valuable to them.

Valtteri Bottas admits Sauber has a shortage of personnel

Valtteri Bottas admitted that Sauber has a shortage of personnel. The Swiss team has often been an underdog on the grid. Although things will change in the coming years as the squad prepares for Audi’s arrival. The Finn claimed that Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl was working towards filling this lack of manpower at the Swiss team.

Valtteri Bottas driving the Alfa Romeo C43 (image via Motorsport.com)
Valtteri Bottas driving the Alfa Romeo C43 (image via Motorsport.com)

Sauber is going through a process of restructuring. Valtteri Bottas pointed out that the team recently had a new Technical Director in the form of James Key. Moreover, Andreas Seidl joined the squad earlier this year as the Sauber group CEO. Bottas hoped that the team could turn things around after a lack of progress in 2023.

The Swiss team struggled to make gains this year, falling behind Williams and AlphaTauri. However, Valtteri Bottas and Sauber would be looking to improve on their results next season in a bid to establish themselves in the F1 midfield.

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