Team Talk - Sunday in Abu Dhabi

Sauber (Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber)

Valtteri Bottas

"Unfortunately, today felt like a downward spiral after the incident on lap one, for which I also received a penalty. From there on, I was at the back, but we still kept trying and kept pushing. Later in the race, I had contact with Kevin [Magnussen] while defending: I locked up on old tires and basically bumped into him. That was my mistake, and it's a shame my last race with the team ended this way. We know we gave it everything and that is all we could do tonight. As another season goes into the books, and I plan for what’s next, I want to take a moment to thank everyone at the team, everyone at Ferrari, and all the supporters for their incredible support this year."

Zhou Guanyu

"It's been an emotional weekend and, while I wish we could finish with a better result, we cannot let today detract from the three years I spent with the team. I don't think the peace was at its best today, but we were out there fighting and gave it everything. Starting 15th it was always going to be difficult, and a slow stop and the penalty put us out of contention for the points. Still, it was the last race, and I think we executed our day as well as we could. Thank you everyone in the team and among the fans for their support over the last three years—it's truly been a pleasure. Now it's on to the next chapter for me, but I also wish the team all the best for the future."

Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative

"Today's race was eventful and brought a tough season to a close, with only four points scored across 24 races. The most meaningful moment came before the race as we bid farewell to Zhou and Valtteri after three years together in which they contributed greatly to our cause and supported us through challenging times. Valtteri gave his all tonight but was unlucky with two incidents—one with Perez on lap one, resulting in a front wing change and penalty, and another with Magnussen on lap 30, which caused suspension damage and forced his retirement. It's not the ending we hoped for, but we'll celebrate his incredible efforts and wish him the best for the future. Zhou ran a strong race, recovering from a false start and penalty to finish P13 , thanks to his pace and a well-executed strategy. We also wish him every success in his next chapter. We want to thank everyone at Hinwil, trackside, and at Ferrari for their hard work this season. earned Constructors' Championship, a testament to perseverance and teamwork. Inspired, we now focus on the post-season period to build a strong foundation for 2025 and beyond."