Valtteri Bottas finds himself entangled in the whirlwind of F1’s driver market speculations as the 2024 season kicks off, particularly due to Sauber’s shifts under Audi’s ownership.
The recent major move was the unveiling of Hulkenberg’s multi-year deal last week, sparking inquiries into who Audi might pair with the 36-year-old for the upcoming season.
Among the contenders for a spot at the Hinwil-based team are both current drivers like Bottas and Zhou, as well as free agents like Sainz and Ocon. Bottas is actively engaged behind the scenes, pushing forward contract talks, with some negotiations showing promising signs, as per the Finnish driver.
However, Bottas faces the unsettling reality that Audi may not be keen on extending his contract, with numerous reports hinting at an overhaul in the driver lineup at Hinwil even before last week’s announcement.
This is perhaps unsurprising given that CEO Andreas Seidl inherited rather than handpicked the current duo. A recent development highlighting the shifting dynamics within the Swiss team and Bottas’s dwindling influence has come to light.
The ten-time race winner found himself paired with a new race engineer this weekend, a sudden change made without his input, as Bottas revealed in Thursday’s press conference:
“I think that’s more a question for the team. Yeah, it was quite a sudden change. Obviously, it’s a Sprint weekend, so working with a fresh guy will be not easy, but obviously trying to make the most out of it.
“But yeah, he’s getting a lot of support. But yeah, it’s quite a sudden change. I think it’s part of the kind of reconstruction for the team.
“There’s some people leaving, some people joining. And obviously, yeah, many of those decisions, they are not in my hands. And yeah, so I don’t do those decisions.”
In his characteristic diplomatic manner, Bottas responded professionally in the face of this awkward situation. He acknowledged that Sauber’s announcement of Nico Hulkenberg’s acquisition came sooner than anticipated.
While ruling out an Audi deal for him might be premature, it appears that communication between the two parties is limited, casting doubt on his future with the team that brought him in under Fred Vasseur’s management back in the summer of 2021.
With the Miami GP being a Sprint weekend, Bottas finds himself with limited time to adapt to his new race engineer. Amidst the challenge of scoring points in a fiercely competitive midfield, the 34-year-old must now navigate yet another obstacle.
