Sauber Motorsport COO and CTO Mattia Binotto admits it was a tricky resolution to interchange Valtteri Bottas with Gabriel Bortoleto in 2025.
Bortoleto was introduced on Wednesday morning, finalizing an all-new line-up subsequent season of the Brazilian rookie and Nico Hulkenberg. Meaning there is no such thing as a place for 35-year-old Bottas, and Binotto admits the 10-time grand prix winner was one of many fundamental contenders for the emptiness however that the timing felt proper to introduce a younger driver whereas the Stake staff evolves into the Audi works outfit.
“I’m getting on very nicely with Valtteri,” Binotto (pictured above, with Bottas) stated. “It has been a terrific relationship since I’ve began right here in August, constructing it, trusting one another. And I feel we actually arrange and had good communication between us. We had a number of talks concerning the journey, the size and length of the journey, and the difficulties we’ll perhaps face within the subsequent seasons.
“We all know that the following one will probably be a troublesome season as a staff, as a journey in direction of the Audi F1 transformation. It’s a protracted journey. I feel on the length is the place we primarily mirrored collectively lots, and it’s the place I got here to the conclusion that perhaps we might want to have a younger driver with us.
“So all of it with him has been a mutual, let’s say, understanding — if not settlement, actually a mutual understanding — of the state of affairs, the info and what’s required.
“Greater than that, I want to underline I feel he has actually been a really sturdy candidate. I do know he’s very quick. I do know that he has confirmed to be very quick till right this moment, very match, he is aware of the staff. Actually he’s very extremely rated right here, and he’s very extremely rated within the paddock.
“So general it has not been a simple one, however typically it’s essential come to a conclusion and decide. And we made it.”
Bottas says each side had been conscious of the place their future plans didn’t match up, because the Finn now seems to be sure to not race in Components 1 in 2025.
“A state of affairs like that is by no means straightforward for anybody,” Bottas stated. “However in any case the nice and in-depth discussions we had up to now weeks, we realized that the situations to develop this undertaking collectively weren’t met.
“These previous years with the staff have been an unimaginable journey, filled with progress, challenges and unforgettable moments. I’m grateful for the joint experiences in addition to the belief and assist I’ve felt each step of the best way. Although it’s time to maneuver on, I’ll at all times carry a chunk of this staff with me, and I look ahead to seeing what the longer term holds for us each.
“When one door closes, one other one opens. I’m truly very excited for the longer term and what’s subsequent.”
