Bottas' future in F1 hanging by a thread: 'That's why Audi should keep me'

Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, and Nico Hulkenberg are all drivers being linked with multiple teams for 2025. One name is invariably missing: that of Valtteri Bottas. The Finn has an expiring contract with Stake F1 - which will become Audi in 2026 - and for now, he does not seem to be in the picture with other teams. Bottas doesn't seem to be getting much interest from Audi either. Bottas' career in Formula 1 is increasingly hanging by a thread.

Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg are said to be the leading candidates to join Stake in 2025, to continue as Audi's factory drivers a year later. So no place left for Guanyu Zhou or Bottas. Silly season has obviously only just started, but the rumours are already frequent. Bottas - a former vice-world champion - undoubtedly reads and hears all sorts of things, and so the former Mercedes driver himself does not seem to be anywhere in the mix.

Bottas' best chance of continuing his F1 career beyond 2024 is with his current team Stake F1, in case a deal cannot be reached with Sainz or Hulkenberg. Bottas wants a longer stay at Stake himself. Indeed, he believes the Swiss would be wise to keep him on board for longer, he told Motorsport-Total, among others, after the Australian Grand Prix.

"Experience is important in this sport," he said. "When the rules change, you also have to be very dynamic in terms of the direction you take with the car and the new ideas you have. And the more experience you have, the better you can adapt to certain things. So I hope that will be my strength. They [Audi] should also know that I am a good team player for everyone who works with me."