The case for Sauber to retain Bottas in its driver line-up

Valtteri Bottas is still awaiting a final decision from Sauber regarding his future with the Formula 1 team for 2025. It has yet to choose who will pilot its remaining car next season alongside current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who signed for the team on a multi-year deal in April.

Much speculation has surrounded the final Sauber seat, with the names of young drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto thrown about as potential contenders.

But Bottas isn’t ruled out of consideration, and revealed in the build-up to the United States Grand Prix that he remains positive despite the situation being out of his control.

He said: “I know the terms that I’m up for, and just basically waiting for the green light. I feel and believe that I should be in that seat, I feel like I would be best for the interest of the team.”

Bottas has been a fixture of the F1 grid since 2013, when he made his debut with Williams. He switched to Mercedes in 2017, following Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement at the end of the 2016 season and at the German squad won 10 grands prix, driving alongside Lewis Hamilton, while also helping it to five constructors’ titles.

The Finn is a highly experienced driver at the top level, only behind Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and Sergio Perez for most starts on the current grid (with 241 heading into the Mexican GP), and retaining him for 2025 would provide Sauber with stability. Granted, Bottas and Hulkenberg would not be the most groundbreaking pairing, but would represent a relatively risk-free one.

Signing for Sauber, then running under the title sponsor name of Alfa Romeo in 2022, Bottas has experience both with the Hinwil team and its current car philosophy. If paired with Hulkenberg, who has put in some stellar performances with Haas this season, the two would likely not butt heads too much.

It has been difficult for Bottas to show his talent in 2024. Sauber’s performances this year have not lived up to expectations, as the Swiss team is currently rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ championship having yet to score a point.

“If you don’t have the car, it’s really difficult to show what you can do,” he said. “And also, for people making decisions in a big company, you know, they tend to look at the results. It’s not, at the moment, easy to…