Bottas Facing Career End After Scathing Criticism From F1 Experts
Aug.21 - A well-known motor racing personality has issued a scathing assessment of Valtteri Bottas' ongoing suitability for a Formula 1 race seat.
With rumours about the Finn's future swirling, Bottas headed into the August summer break admitting that the situation inside at Sauber at present is not "stable".
"There's been lots of people leaving, lots of people joining, now another change in the leadership," the 34-year-old said when asked about the arrival of Mattia Binotto. "So for sure that doesn't help the here and now moment.
"It's been pretty clear, to me, that all the decisions in the last year or two has been made to be competitive from 2026. But my job is still to do the very best I can and contribute the best I can. That's all I can do at the moment," Bottas added.
Sauber's new owner Audi clearly targeted Carlos Sainz for the other 2025 seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg, but several others have been mentioned, including Mick Schumacher - and even the retired Sebastian Vettel.
"Seb is suddenly of interest to Audi again," Dr Helmut Marko told Osterreich newspaper, although he later clarified that he also mentioned Schumacher at the same time.
"What is certain is that he (Vettel) wants to race in F1 again," Red Bull's F1 consultant, and Vettel's original mentor and boss, added.
As for Bottas, in an awkward moment of timing, he will vacate his Sauber cockpit in the initial practice session at Zandvoort in deference to Ferrari test driver and rookie Robert Shwartzman.
Dutch racing personality and driver Tom Coronel thinks the Finn should vacate his seat permanently.
"It's always difficult when you go from the best team to the worst team, but he chose that himself," he told the Dutch magazine Formule 1. "I honestly think it's a shame.
"Do something else!" Coronel continued. "Go to Finland and do fun things and make funny videos, and give this seat to someone who needs it to gain experience and grow.
"All he's doing is destroying the careers of the young ones. Zero world championship points? Get out of here! We call it ageing, and it's like fish and fruit - at some point it starts to rot."
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I think To m Coronel is an absolute nobody. He's entitled to an opinion even if nobody else takes any notice.
Tom Coronel was a legend in his own lunch time!
Journos must be desperate to find someone to quote for a comment.
Sounds like Coronel's comments had a very big serving of envy topped up with jealousy, showing he is a nobody who never made it! Reminds me of a song by The Who ~ Who Are You? Play it and you will hear the words fit will.
Coronel's claim is even more applicable to Perez & Ricciardo, not to mention Bottas seems to be in pole position for a 2025 drive.
Bottas was always a joke of a driver, to give him a seat next year is madness.
Zero points = crap car and crap team not crap driver.
Those new Meds are working well for you i see, but on a non wind-up note , i agree with you on this point, im pretty sure VB isnt happy driving that car and deserves better, if only for his years at Mercedes as Laura's Lackey, Damn i just cant help myself hehehe
VB was finished after LH annihilated him year after year.
VB was finished when he joined Mercedes as sir Lulu's wingman in his words said, "VB has been my best team mate & wing man ever" poor sod,, who gives a shit about him now certainly not sir lulu., now NR never gave into him & it was a great shame when he retired, probably fed up with being treated as second best although he was with Mercedes before sir lulu.
The reason for no.2 is to find new no.1
Forget about they being team players. Sack them if they can't do that.
No lily livers
That's if I was boss. If I was no.2 - pleeease don't sack meee
Definitely no Lillie's,Posies,Pansies, Im not a flower person, i like fashion, song writing and sarongs and I miss my Blondie ( thats a female lackey) for those not in the know, as for Liver , oh no Im a vegetariano
I miss her to, nearly defected to tennis (and Emma Rad.Still got her pic on your bedroom wall?)until f1 became more interesting.
(and Emma Rad.Still got her pic on your bedroom wall?) On my phone actually but purely because Im just a fan of hers.
Of course.🤫 I’m right behind her to.