Bottas ‘can’t do anything’ to speed up Sauber driver decision as he plays waiting game over F1 future

Valtteri Bottas has shared the latest surrounding talks over his Formula 1 future, stating that he is “trying to stay positive” while Kick Sauber chiefs deliberate on who should partner Nico Hulkenberg next season.

Sauber, having been taken over by Audi earlier this year, prior to becoming the German car manufacturer’s works operation, are one of only two teams – along with RB – yet to confirm their full 2025 driver line-up.

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Bottas has been talking with team chief Mattia Binotto for some time but, with just six rounds of the 2024 campaign remaining, still does not know if he will be keeping his seat for another term.

It comes amid several other drivers being linked to the drive, including Williams stand-in star Franco Colapinto and former Haas racer Mick Schumacher – who would both represent a more youthful route than 35-year-old Bottas.

Asked why the discussions are rumbling on, Bottas said: “I think that’s more a question for Mattia. There’s nothing really I can do at this point, so I’ll just focus on racing and my performance. You should ask Mattia!

“I’m always positive, I always try to stay positive, and at the same time [I’m trying to] do my job, hoping eventually things will be sorted.”

He continued: “Of course I want to know what my future is – it’s natural. At the moment, I can’t really apparently do anything to make things [go] faster.

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“They’re still making decisions about the future, which I imagine is experience versus youth. That’s my picture of the situation, but I hope they come to the right conclusion soon.

“I think things should be looked at more in depth, like what I can bring to the team and what I can achieve if the car is there. All I can do is do my best and perform the best I can, for myself but also for the team.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Kick Sauber garage, Zhou Guanyu has not given up hope of extending his stay at the team as he gets set for further talks with Binotto at the United States Grand Prix.

“We’re talking about it,” he said. “Of course, everything is in the hands of Mattia, who is here this weekend making further talks with my management team, and also having a look at the team – where to improve for the future.

“For me, all I can say is I’m trying to do my job here, and hopefully that can impress him.”

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Pushed on whether he thinks there is still a chance of keeping his spot, Zhou added: “Yeah, of course. I still feel like it and had a few talks and meetings with him already. We still have opportunities, which is good. It gives you good hopes.

“Obviously nothing is decided until it’s set down in black and white, but I’m just going to be focused on what’s happening right now and then see how everything goes.”

Kick Sauber arrive at the Circuit of The Americas as the only outfit without a point to their name so far this season, leaving them 10th and last in the constructors’ standings.