SUMMARY
- Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas reveals his enthusiasm to join the Audi F1 project as his contract near its end in 2024.
- Bottas expects to begin contract negotiations as early as the commencement of the upcoming season.
Newly turned Sauber driver, Valtteri Bottas suggested his determination to keep racing with the team. While the German automaker has been slated to take over the Hinwil-based company in 2026, he shared his excitement about becoming a part of the future “Audi Project“. Bottas is approaching his final season with the team as his contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
With Alfa Romeo ending its Sauber contract this year, the team changed its name temporarily until 2026, when Audi is expected to enter Formula 1 for the first time. On the FIA entry list, the squad hinted at the name “Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber,” nevertheless they formally delayed the announcement until January 1.
Valtteri Bottas voiced his desire to drive under the Audi banner
After quitting Mercedes in 2021 to join Sauber, Bottas expects to start talks with his team manager in the first quarter of the upcoming season, since his contract was set to expire the following year. Amid these imminent shifts, Bottas said quite plainly what he sought out: to join the Audi F1 team. After a stint at Mercedes, Bottas joined Alfa Romeo/Sauber in 2021 and will likely begin contract discussions with the company before 2024.
Valtteri Bottas expects his contract negotiations with Sauber to kick off in early 2024 as the link-up with Audi looms.
“I definitely want to be part of the Audi project”#F1 #Sauber pic.twitter.com/W4lXJZbd8m
— 🏎 Formula 1 Daily (@Formula1_Daily) December 27, 2023
The Finn stated, “So I’m signed until [the] end of next year and there haven’t been talks yet. I think there’s actually many drivers without contracts [beyond 2024]…For me the goal is clear. I would definitely want to be a part of the Audi project, so that’s my goal and we’ll find out next year what happens” during his interview with Express Sport.
However, according to reports, the German manufacturer has already approached drivers on the grid including the retired Sebastian Vettel.
Sauber ramps up F1 recruitment for Audi partnership in 2026
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the CEO of the Sauber F1 team, has announced the launch of a massive recruiting initiative aimed at shoring up the company’s structure. Later on, the team envisions the 2026 season to witness a historic shift when Audi takes over upon entering. Bravi revealed that the group is currently carrying out a thorough hiring strategy.
The #AbuDhabiGP marked the end of the six year partnership between Alfa Romeo and Sauber Motorsport.
For the next two seasons, the team will once again be known as Sauber for the first time since 2017, before Audi takes over in 2026.#F1 @alfaromeostake @alfa_romeo pic.twitter.com/cC4sfSuedt
— Tate 🍌 ♥️ Memecoin (@0xHarlin) December 22, 2023
According to the group head, “We have undertaken a major hiring plan. Of course, in the coming years we will increase our structure, both in terms of personnel and technology, because all the investments that need to be made and implemented also take some time.”
Bravi also highlighted a forthcoming rise in staff and amenities, pointing to continuous investments as the catalyst for the growth. Sauber has made the conscious choice to keep Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou for the third consecutive season, primarily focusing on the driver lineup for the forthcoming 2024 Formula 1 season.