P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The key to Valtteri Bottas’ F1 future is probably to be found at McLaren rather than Sauber as Mark Hughes explains…
Valtteri Bottas’ future in Formula 1 may hinge on his prospects at McLaren rather than Sauber, as Sauber-Audi is his last resort for staying in the sport. The unexpected change at Audi, appointing Mattia Binotto, has led to uncertainty in Bottas’s contract renewal. Binotto’s holding pattern might suggest Bottas is a fallback option while McLaren eyes F2 leader Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto, potentially joining McLaren, could sway Bottas from committing to Sauber early on. If an F1 future doesn’t materialize, a non-racing role at Mercedes appears logical given his strong relationship with team principal Toto Wolff. Bottas himself has expressed interest in continuing as a race driver, with a return to the Mercedes family being a viable option. The possibility of a future Mercedes Le Mans project could be on the horizon for Bottas.
