Bottas sets sights on Audi F1 negotiation ‘reset’

Valtteri Bottas has stated Mattia Binotto’s arrival at the Audi F1 project offers him a chance to reset contract negotiations.

Binotto has taken charge of the project in the role of chief technical and chief operating officer.

His appointment was confirmed at the same time as Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann’s sudden exits from the team.

Binotto spent many years working in engineering roles at Ferrari before rising to the role of team boss in 2019, spending four seasons at the helm.

The Italian will be joined at the team by Jonathan Wheatley, who will take on the position of team principal.

“I believe everything happened pretty quickly,” Bottas said of Seidl and Hoffmann’s departures.

“But obviously those high-level decisions, we as drivers and many of the team members don't know really what's going on behind the scenes.”

Bottas is believed to be a strong contender for a seat at Stake next year, which will transition to Audi in 2026.

However, Formula 2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto is also believed to be an option for the team.

Nico Hulkenberg has already been signed up to the project on a multi-year deal, with Bottas hoping to follow in the German’s tracks.

“It’s a bit of a reset again,” Bottas told media including RacingNews365.

“It’s not a secret that when there's a new leadership, it will always take a bit of time, first of all.

“Mattia needs to know what are the weaknesses, what are the strengths, what are the priorities for short- and long-term improvements, and that's going to take a bit of time.

“Again, it's the third time now in three years, within three years, that we've had change at the top, so not a new situation, and the team shouldn't be too affected at this point.

“I think it's more the stuff for the future, and obviously time will show what will happen.”