F1 driver market to spark back into life this week

Valtteri Bottas is anticipating the latest dominoes will start to fall in F1's driver market this week.

Bottas is one of those drivers in the hunt for a seat as his contract with Stake expires at the end of this season, and it is almost certain he will not be retained despite his experience and his previously stated desire to be part of the Audi party when it starts in 2026.

The key player is Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver is F1's most wanted, with Alpine firmly in the running to secure his signature ahead of known admirers Williams, along with Audi which has long courted his services to partner Nico Hulkenberg.

Once Sainz has made a decision on which team he would like to drive for in 2025 and beyond when he leaves Ferrari at the end of this year, then the picture will become a lot clearer.

At present, there are two seats available at Haas, and one apiece at Williams, Stake/Audi, RB, Alpine and Aston Martin.

Suggested to Bottas the driver market was due to kick off this week and whether he felt he was in the mix, speaking to media, including RacingNews365, following the Spanish Grand Prix, he replied: "Yeah, I'm ready for next week.

"I think there is one certain date, apparently, that is going to decide some things, so I'm looking forward."

Asked as to the date, Bottas joked: "I can't tell you. It's classified."

As to his confidence whether he will know what he will be doing, he added: "There's a 50 per cent chance I will know - maybe, maybe not. But I think after next week things will start happening quickly."

In terms of his confidence on whether he will be in F1 next season, he replied: "There's always doubt when you are not signed. I should be here, I belong here, so let's see."