Valtteri Bottas has ruled out racing in another championship outside of F1 despite losing his drive at Sauber for the 2025 season.
Between Brazil and Las Vegas, Sauber announced that Bottas and his teammate Guanyu Zhou would not be retained for next year.
Bottas was in contention to stay at Sauber in 2025 alongside Nico Hulkenberg, but the Swiss-based team ultimately opted for F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto.
Bottas therefore finds himself without a steering wheel for next year – and with no place available for the Finn, he is on the sidelines for a year.
He has been linked with a return to Mercedes F1 as a reserve driver and/or advisor to Toto Wolff – but his immediate future is not yet clear.
Speaking at the FIA press conference ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Bottas blamed the blow.
“The closer we got to that decision date, the more I realized at the end that there were other pilot candidates as well. Of course, you start to hear rumors. In the end, I still thought that it was maybe a one in two chance [de rester]. I got the call on Monday after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, but at least I know now. I just have to figure out what’s next.”
Bottas outlined his plan for next year… still unclear.
“At the moment I feel like having to jump into a new category comes a little too late. It's almost December. I think it would be more realistic if I don't find a place in F1 in 2026, because I'm going to look to come back in 2026… so it would probably be from 2026 onwards for another category. All these things, I have to try to plan them.
“The picture starts to form in my head of what the ideal situation is.”
Even though his F1 career – at least for now – will end next month, he is at peace with himself.
“Yes, absolutely. Life goes on. There are a lot of exciting things to come. I agree with that. It's a tricky sport. I think I've been put in a bit of an unlucky situation in terms of positioning for the last seat on the grid and if this does not happen, you are eliminated from the grid.
“This is how my career as an F1 driver ends… for now. It's not the best way to go, because I can't really decide for myself. I feel to have a lot to contribute to this sport. I still love it. The best drivers in the world in the best cars in the world. I'm just trying to figure out what. is the next step. I take things day by day. interesting things on the table.”
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