P1racenews AI automatic summary:
At one stage, Valtteri Bottas was poised to be picked up by whoever was first in line in missing out on Carlos Sainz for 2025. Now his chances of staying in F1 rest on getting a new contract from his current employer, which looked a long shot not so long ago
Two driver market deals have shaped the Formula 1 silly season, with Carlos Sainz securing a new contract with Williams and Alpine promoting Jack Doohan. This led to a limited number of seats left for the 2025 grid, with Esteban Ocon signing for Haas, leaving Valtteri Bottas with few options. Bottas had talks with Sauber, now under new management with Mattia Binotto, signaling a potential renewal of his contract with the team. Despite feeling like a second choice in the past, Bottas remains optimistic about his future with the Audi works team under the new leadership. The recent changes have brought clarity and structure to Sauber, making Bottas feel more positive about his prospects in Formula 1.
