Bottas didn’t expect so many changes at Sauber

May 3, 2024 09:25

Valtteri Bottas faces a busy weekend in Miami with Sauber (Stake F1 Team). In addition to debuting a new race engineer, the Finn was also surprised by the hiring of Nico Hulkenberg for the next Formula 1 season.

Steve Petrik takes Alex Chan’s place as responsible for communicating with Bottas on the track. The sudden change, on the eve of a Sprint race weekend, where track time is crucial, left the driver confused.

“It’s a decision that’s more up to the team to explain,” said Bottas. “It was a sudden change, and working with someone new on a weekend like this won’t be easy. But I’m trying to make the most of it.”

Hulkenberg’s arrival for 2025 also caught Bottas off guard. The German already has a place as a starting driver next season with Sauber, which will become the Audi factory team from 2026.

“The timing is very early and a little surprising,” said Bottas. “But the pilot market is moving. I understand Audi’s choice, and we’ll see what happens in the future.”

While his future with the team and even in F1 remains uncertain, Bottas is said to be in talks with several teams. “Some negotiations are more advanced, so let’s wait for the next steps”, concluded the Finn.

F1MANIA.NET follows the Miami GP ‘in loco’ with journalists Victor D. Berto and Rodrigo França.

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