F1 News
Bottas snipes at Audi after Mercedes return: 'Decent car'
- Nicole Mulder
Valtteri Bottas has taken a small jab via social media at Audi, which refrained from extending the Finnish Formula One driver's stay with the team beyond 2024.
Bottas has a dig at Audi after returning to Mercedes.
Bottas will return to Mercedes next year, his old F1 team with which he enjoyed his greatest successes as Lewis Hamilton's teammate. He'll do so as their third driver. Initially, he planned to stay with Sauber and help the team transform into the Audi factory team in 2026. Still, the Hinwill-based squad went for the combination of Nico Hulkenberg and rising star Gabriel Bortoleto.
On Instagram, Bottas clarified that he is happy to be back with Toto Wolff's team. He shared a picture showing him behind the wheel of a Mercedes, captioned, "Decent car". Due to his contract with Sauber, the Finn already has an Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm and because of his previous commitment to Mercedes, he also has a Mercedes AMG One in the garage.
Bottas was looking for a new challenge after his contract at Sauber was not renewed. As there were no more spots on the grid available for him, he was forced to take an "on the sidelines" role for 2025, however, his intention is to be a full-time F1 racing driver for 2026.
Source: Instagram @valtteribottas
This article was made with the collaboration of Norberto Mujica
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