Valtteri Bottas has denied that failing to renew his deal with Sauber will spell an end to his Formula 1 career, citing that “there are options” elsewhere for next season.
Bottas, who arrived at the team when it was branded as Alfa Romeo in 2022, has entered the final term of his contract with Sauber as it prepares to morph into Audi.
The Finnish driver has expressed that he desires to remain with the Hinwil-based squad to spearhead Audi’s venture as it delves into F1 for the first time ever in 2026.
However, Sauber has announced the signing of Nico Hulkenberg on a multi-term deal, while Carlos Sainz, who will leave Ferrari, is touted as a target for the other seat.
But while it appears that Bottas and team-mate Zhou Guanyu won’t be retained at Sauber, the former is hopeful that he could seize an alternative drive to remain in F1.
Asked whether not resuming with Sauber would bring the curtain down on his F1 stint, Bottas said: “No. There are options. I have the feeling that things will start soon.”
Bottas has admitted it would be “ideal” to have his future sorted as soon as possible, adding that “talks have started” and “it should be an interesting few weeks” ahead.
Hulkenberg’s impending exit will create a vacancy at Haas, but it is thought that Ferrari prospect Oliver Bearman is the leading candidate to take the German’s seat.
Bearman starred when he deputised for the unwell Sainz in Saudi Arabia to make his F1 debut with Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, beating Lewis Hamilton to seventh place.
With Hulkenberg having chosen to depart his current environment and Bearman recognised as the ideal replacement, Haas is set to keep Kevin Magnussen onboard.
Except for the 2021 season, Magnussen has been associated with the American outfit since 2017 and would ensure that experience is preserved alongside a rookie.
Elsewhere, a return to Williams could be a viable destination for Bottas, who graduated into F1 with the Grove-based squad in 2013 and landed nine podium finishes.
Bottas’ departure to replace retiring World Champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in 2017 coincided with Williams encountering a sharp decline down the pecking order.
However, Williams recorded its best finish in the Constructors’ Championship under the leadership of ex-Mercedes Strategy Director James Vowles with seventh place.
Vowles worked with Bottas whilst the pair were both at Mercedes until the latter’s exit at the end of 2021 and Williams could be in the market to replace Logan Sargeant.
The American enters his home race in Miami next weekend under pressure to deliver amid a tough start to his sophomore season that saw him miss a race in Australia.
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