Bottas labels Sauber switch ‘a mistake’ in damning exit

Valtteri Bottas has labelled his decision to move to Sauber in 2022 as “a mistake” following his exit from F1. 

The veteran Finn is without a full-time seat for 2025 after what is now Stake opted to sign F2 title winner Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg, meaning Bottas must make do with a reserve role, and is likely to return to Mercedes.

He left the Brackley team for 2022 for what was then Alfa Romeo, starting strongly, but performances have plummeted since as he went point-less in a season for the first time in his career in ’24. 

Faced with a year on the sidelines, Bottas rued his decision to sign for the team after posting a DNF after a collision with Kevin Magnussen, for which he picked up a five-place grid penalty for his next race, whenever that will be.

“I knew from the moment that I touched the brakes and locked up that that was it, it is a shame, but it is not the first disappointment,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“I’m relieved that this section of my career is over, and now I’m really looking ahead and going to work hard to make the best plan of how to be back on the grid. 

“It was a mistake, but you can’t predict the future. Everything started off so well in the first year but since then, it’s been downhill, but you can’t predict the future.

“That’s how it is, and I just want to make sure that the next move I make is going to be a good one, and hopefully there are better times to come.”

When pushed by RacingNews365 if there were other options for 2022, Bottas indicated that a return to Williams was possible, with Alex Albon getting the George Russell seat as he replaced Bottas at Mercedes.

“There was Williams, there was Williams at that point,” he simply said.