P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas spoke exclusively to RacingNews365 on the end to his full-time F1 career for now after Audi opted for a younger driver.
Valtteri Bottas recently recounted how his Formula 1 career took an unexpected turn, culminating in him being left without a full-time racing seat for the 2025 season. Despite his long-standing presence on the grid, he found himself on the sidelines, returning to Mercedes as a reserve driver behind George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Bottas had hoped to continue with Audi as it transitioned in 2026 but was displaced by F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto. The Finnish driver, having believed he would be a key figure in Audi’s plans, ultimately found himself without a clear path forward due to conflicting decisions within the team hierarchy. While exploring other potential opportunities with teams like Williams and Haas, Bottas ultimately faced disappointment as his future in F1 took an unexpected turn due to shifting priorities and the arrival of new talents like Sainz and Bortoleto.
