Bottas makes Stake stability admission

Valtteri Bottas has admitted the lack of stability at Stake may have contributed to its poor performances over the past two seasons.

The Finnish driver has been with the team since 2022 and it has struggled to score points on a regular basis since the second-half of that season.

This term, Stake finds itself bottom of the constructors' standings and is the only team without points 14 rounds into the year.

The former Sauber entry will transition into Audi at the start of the 2026 season and just prior to the summer break, that project announced a regime change.

Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann, who had been heading up the operation, were replaced by ex-Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, who joined in a combined chief operations-chief technical officer role.

It followed that hire up by confirming Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley would become team principal of Audi's F1 project.

"Well, definitely the last year or two, it's not been really stable," Bottas conceded to media including RacingNews365 when asked whether the investment in the future was detracting from Stake's current ability to perform.

"We've not being really super stable as a team because there's been lots of people leaving, lots of people joining. Now another change in the leadership. So for sure, that doesn't help the here and now moment. 

"And even the previous shake-up, it was made for the future and more like for the long term. But with the change again, I think if we've had the same leadership and so on for the last few years and that stability, then maybe there's more time to focus on the issues and solving them. 

"But to me, it's been pretty clear that all the decisions in the last year or two has been made to be competitive from ‘26. 

"I know it's not ideal in some cases, and like for me, unfortunately, many times fighting towards the back end, but my job is still to do the very best I can and at the same time push the team and contribute the best I can. That's all I can do at the moment."

Bottas finds himself in a difficult situation. Like team-mate Zhou Guanyu, the 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season.

With Nico Hulkenberg already confirmed for one of the seats at Stake and reserve drivers like Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan vying for the Stake and Alpine drives respectively, Bottas' options are starting to thin.

The team is gearing up to 2026, and it is making decisions, including who its driver line-up should consist of, with the transformation to Audi in mind.

Bottas did hint at an extension with the team in a recent social media post, but could still become a casualty of the two-pronged approach it has adopted since the German marque's takeover was confirmed.

It has also led to suggesting there is not uniformity between the current operation and future management - something the ex-Williams and Mercedes driver denied.

"I wouldn't say that it feels like two separate teams," the 10-time grand prix winner said.

"Obviously, there has been a change again and now everyone needs to get to know Mattia [Binotto] better. [I'm] looking forward to actually start working with him. 

"But no, it still feels like one team. For sure, like I said, it's not been super stable lately, but hopefully from now on, things will be a bit more stable and there's a clear direction."