Bottas warns against 'forgetting' F1 success with future uncertain

Valtteri Bottas has revealed that his priority for the 2025 Formula 1 season is to remain with Stake F1 ahead of Audi's arrival.

Audi will join the grid in 2026 and take over the Sauber-run operation, becoming the works team for the German manufacturer, which will likely be a highly desired destination for several drivers on the grid.

With near half the grid out of contract at the end of the current season, the prospect of driver swaps is highly likely - however, Bottas is keen to stay put and commit to Audi's F1 project.

“It's going to be interesting,” Bottas told media including RacingNews365.

“I would imagine that things will start to move relatively soon, because there are many contracts that are expiring, including myself.

“I want to have a good beginning of the year and then we'll see. Of course, the people behind me are already working on it, finding what are the best options and what are the opportunities.

“I just need to do the driving now. My priority, as I've said before, would be getting involved in the Audi project. For me, that's really tempting and ideal.”

Bottas points to F1 success

Bottas joined the Stake team in 2022 when it ran under the Alfa Romeo name, making the move after a spell at then-dominant constructor Mercedes.

Although he has been competing further down the order across the last two years, Bottas highlighted that he possesses one of the most established F1 resumés on the grid.

“I feel like I have nothing to prove but of course, in this sport, you always want to keep proving yourself because people's memories are short,” he said.

“We had a difficult year last year. I probably wasn't that visible on track, sometimes fighting towards the back end.

“So hopefully people don't forget what I've been able to achieve, which is 67 podiums and 20 poles, etc. So there's not that many drivers in the grid that are going to be free with those numbers.”