Valtteri Bottas gives candid assessment of his time at Sauber: “This was a big mistake"
Valtteri Bottas, a 10-time Grand Prix winner expressed regret in signing with Sauber. Ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi, the Finnish driver said that if given an opportunity to go back in time, he would preferably sign somewhere else. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the end of Bottas' three-year stint with the Hinwii team, with his future in F1 hanging in the balance.
Speaking to the Finnish media outlet Ilta Sanomat, Valtteri Bottas assessed his three-year-long tenure with Kick Sauber and claimed that Sauber was a mistake as he could hardly compete in the midfield.
In 2022, when Fred Vasseur was the team principal of Sauber (previously known as Alfa Romeo), the team finished sixth in constructors championships, and Bottas, as a senior driver, saw the project as an opportunity to lead the team up front. As quoted by PlanetF1, Bottas said:
"If I could go back three years, I would have gone somewhere else. Unfortunately, that’s how it is. This was a big mistake, but it’s hard to predict these things in advance," Valtteri Bottas said.
However, the expectations fell apart when Vasseur moved to Ferrari to join as team principal. From scoring 16 points in the 2023 F1 season, Sauber plummeted to just four points in 2024. Valtteri Bottas' points list remained blank throughout the year.
The Finnish driver further said his image as a driver has taken a hit since joining Sauber. Coming from an 8-time constructors champion team like Mercedes, the transition was tough. While Bottas initially expected challenges at the backmarker team, he didn't expect it to be this significant. Overall, barring the first year, Valtteri's remaining two seasons with Sauber were difficult, and he regrets signing with the Hinwi team.
“That first year with Vasseur was a good thing. The team spirit was good and the results were quite good. The last two seasons have been a bit of a downhill slide all the time. Of course, that affects my image as a driver. If you can’t show results, people kind of forget your name," he added.
Kick Sauber earlier announced selling 100% stakes of the team to German automotive manufacturer, Audi. The team will be officially rebranded in 2026 when new engine regulations are set to come into effect.
Ex-Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto will take over as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer for Audi, whereas ex-Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has been roped in as team principal.
Valtteri Bottas addresses retirement rumors: "I still have more to give"
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 is rumored to be Valtteri Bottas' final race in F1. Amid ongoing speculations surrounding his retirement, the Finnish driver said he has a lot of energy left in the tank. The 10-time Grand Prix winner feels he has some service left for F1 and won't give up before exploring all the possible options.
“I have a feeling that I’m not done with this sport,” he said. “I still have more to give, so I’m going to watch this card until the end. Next week we plan to finalise next year’s plans. Let’s finish this race with honour, and then focus on what’s coming next week," Bottas said (via the aforementioned source).
Interestingly, Valtteri Bottas is linked to Mercedes for a potential reserve driver role. Having spent five seasons at the Silver Arrows previously, He is likely to replace Mick Schumacher as the third driver if the rumored deal goes through.
Sharing his take on the rumors, the Finnish driver revealed that by next week, his team will finalize the plans for the upcoming season. Until then, he wishes to finish the final race with Sauber with honor and wrap up the 2024 season on a high.