Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas has denied he has any deal signed for F1 2025, but says he’s 99 percent sure his future in the sport is assured.
Bottas is among the drivers who haven’t secured a contract for the upcoming season, and he has been making it more evident that he needs to explore options beyond his current team to ensure his future in Formula 1.
Valtteri Bottas denies Williams signing
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper.
Over the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend, Bottas was spotted in the Williams motorhome having a conversation with team boss James Vowles – with whom Bottas worked when the pair were both at Mercedes.
Bottas dismissed the meeting as simply a gathering between long-time friends. However, Williams is one of the teams that has not yet confirmed its seats for the upcoming season, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Logan Sargeant’s future.
After driving for Williams from 2013 to ’16, Bottas joined Mercedes. His extensive experience in the sport and familiarity with the team make him the perfect candidate for Vowles’ mission to revive the once dominant force in Formula One. Moreover, Bottas’ unique strengths are well-known to Vowles, further solidifying his suitability for the job.
Bottas has reportedly signed with Williams, according to reputable publications Speedcafe and Vasabladet, supported by research from PlanetF1.com. However, the Finnish driver did not confirm if Williams is indeed his next team in Formula 1.
“Including PlanetF1.com, Bottas informed the media in Monaco that there was nothing substantial to contribute compared to the previous weekend.”
When questioned about whether he had agreed to a contract with Williams and if his confidence in staying in the sport had grown from 99 percent to a complete 100, he responded by saying, “Currently, I haven’t signed with any team.”
I mentioned that absolute certainty only exists when the pen makes contact with the paper. In this particular activity, that’s the way things operate, so there’s never a complete assurance. Nevertheless, I’ll still aim for a 99 percent certainty.
I hope to be sorted soon, just like all the teams, as everything is progressing rapidly. Hopefully, it will happen within the next few weeks.
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While juggling the demands of a Grand Prix weekend, Bottas has been actively showcasing his worth to potential teams through his on-track performances. The Finn emphasized that he has been highly engaged in contract negotiations to the best of his abilities.
He stated, “I have always been personally engaged and continue to be. However, during the race weekend, I am unable to allocate time for multiple scattered meetings.”
Additionally, I have the responsibility to concentrate on my job, which entails performing on the track. If I ever feel overwhelmed, I can rely on the support of individuals like Didi [Didier Coton, manager, ed.] who has been a tremendous help to me in this regard.
However, I always prefer to remain engaged because ultimately, it affects my future.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future due to an expiring contract and apparent disinterest from Sauber in extending his deal, Bottas expressed no worries about being excluded from the driver market.
“Sure,” he responded, when questioned about his optimism for the future.
I feel at ease and self-assured about things, without any sense of panic.
“We are engaged in discussions with more than one team, to put it simply. However, I do have a clear priority for the future which I prefer not to disclose.”
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