P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas’ priority is to secure a contract extension that covers Audi’s Formula 1 arrival in 2026, but he would
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas currently drives for the Sauber team, which will be known as Stake F1 Team for the next two seasons before becoming an official Audi entry. Sauber performed well in Bottas’s debut season in 2022, but their competitiveness declined in the second half of the year and continued into 2023, finishing ninth in the Constructors’ Championship. Bottas, determined to return to the podium, sees joining Audi as his best opportunity. His contract with Sauber ends in 2024, and he hopes to have discussions about his future with Audi in the early part of the year. If the Audi plan falls through, Bottas is open to considering other teams in Formula 1. He will continue as Zhou Guanyu’s teammate for the 2024 season, and Sauber will reveal their new F1 car on February 5th, breaking their tradition of launching in Switzerland. Additionally, Sauber has secured sponsorship from Kick, a streaming service subsidiary, for their chassis.
