Sauber has reportedly re-signed Valtteri Bottas for 2025 and opted not to take a chance on a young asset in the team’s final transition year to becoming the works Audi F1 squad.
The whisper in the paddock in Singapore was echoed by Blick veteran F1 reporter Roger Benoit – a usually trusty source – who claims that Bottas’ services have been extended by Audi-Sauber for an additional year.
Only time will tell if the move is confirmed, but a clearly unhappy Benoit dispensed his two cents on what remains a rumor until officially denied or confirmed.
“Audi-Sauber seems to be taking the cowardly transfer route for 2025 – and is opening a retirement home in Hinwil! Valtteri Bottas is said to have signed a new contract with the racing team,” the Swiss journalist wrote.
“What a great Italian stroke of genius by the new boss Mattia Binotto, with the in-house lawyer and substitute team boss Alessandro Alunni-Bravi,” he mockingly added.
A Bottas contract extension was generally considered as a Plan B by Sauber, with the Swiss outfit reportedly more interested in pairing its future experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg with a young charger, with McLaren hopeful and FIA Formula Championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto positioned at the top of its short list.
However, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, while open to seeing its young Brazilian protégé being promoted to F1 with another team, made it clear that any potential deal would see Bortoleto remain affiliated with McLaren in the long term.
©Sauber
This may have been a roadblock for Audi which is only seeking a long-term relationship with a prospective young driver.
The same logic would apply for Franco Colapinto, whom Williams boss James Vowles is eager to see on the grid in 2025 following his impressive F1 debut with the Grove-based outfit.
“I have always been a firm believer that you have to let good drivers race,” Vowles said in Baku recently. “So we'll see if we can find a way of working with Audi in that circumstance.”
As for Bottas, the Finn was tight-lipped on his F1 future when questioned on the topic in Singapore this weekend.
“We've been in talks now for a while with Mattia since he joined and Alessandro as well.” he explained. “I can't really share much. I might know a bit more than other people, but let's just focus on the racing this weekend.
“At least there's then a good time between this and the next race to continue the talks and then we'll see what happens.”
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