Valtteri Bottas is one of the main candidates for the second seat at Sauber, but he is also considering alternative options.
The second seat at Sauber for 2025 has not yet been assigned, and we are approaching the deadline set by Mattia Binotto, which is mid-November.
This saga, however, is holding up the entire market, as numerous drivers are aiming to secure, excluding the Racing Bulls seat, the last available spot on the 2025 grid.
Among the numerous young drivers, however, there is a touch of experience, represented by the possible confirmation of Sauber’s current driver, Valtteri Bottas.
The Finnish driver, according to rumors circulating in the Singapore paddock, was on the verge of signing a renewal for 2025, but negotiations have come to an abrupt halt.
In fact, now the Hinwil team, which will become Sauber in 2026, seems inclined to give an opportunity to one of the rising young talents who have showcased their skills this year in the feeder categories. We are obviously thinking of Gabriel Bortoleto, the current leader of the Formula 2 championship, and Franco Colapinto, who is making a name for himself with Williams in the second half of 2024, having earned 5 points in 4 races.

Valtteri Bottas had an anonymous race in Austin, finishing in seventeenth place.
At the microphones of F1TV, regarding his future in 2025, Valtteri Bottas stated: ““We keep in touch with Mattia almost every day—sometimes about technical matters, other times about the future. We’ve pretty much agreed on everything regarding the terms and stuff like that.” Now it’s just, the ball is in their camp so I’ll keep waiting and doing my job.”
In response to rumors of a possible return to Mercedes in 2025, Bottas said: “Firstly, the priority is to stay as a race driver, that’s what I want, and that’s what I’m pushing for with Mattia. But, of course, as I don’t have anything signed – we’re in October – I’ve got to look at all the alternatives including going back to the Mercedes family. That’s for sure one option and I would consider it. But there’s other options as well, as well as going back to my priority, which is to be a race driver even more.”

Valtteri Bottas driving the Mercedes during the Jeddah Grand Prix in 2021.
Bottas would not rule out a sensational return to Mercedes in 2025, even in the role of third driver. With the Brackley team, the Finnish driver, with the support of his manager at the time, Toto Wolff, certainly experienced the most important phase of his career.
Indeed, between 2017 and 2021, he achieved a remarkable 10 victories, with 20 pole positions, and his best overall results were second places in both 2019 and 2020.
Bottas has certainly proven to be an excellent team player, providing support to his teammate Lewis Hamilton when necessary in the pursuit of world championships.
Let’s remember, for example, the 2018 Russian Grand Prix, where Bottas, who was the undisputed leader up to that point, allowed Hamilton to pass while he was battling Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari for the championship.

Valtteri Bottas’s last victory in Formula 1 came at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, under wet conditions, ahead of the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez.
Surely, this is a trait that could be beneficial for the Brackley team..
However, we must not forget that Bottas has been racing in Formula 1 since 2013, and with his experience and development skills, he will undoubtedly be an excellent mentor for Andrea Kimi Antonelli as he prepares for his rookie season.
Now, however, Valtteri Bottas is focused on the upcoming races in Mexico and Brazil: “I’m positive about this weekend because normally on this track the gaps are a bit smaller than before, so I really hope to be in the mix and in a better position than before. I really want some points, so that has to be the target for the weekend.”
PHOTO: Valtteri Bottas.