Valtteri Bottas admits: “I preferred Williams over Haas, but then they chose Carlos Sainz”. Valtteri Bottas reveals that he preferred Williams over Haas in negotiations for an F1 seat.

How Carlos Sainz influenced the choices of Williams and Valtteri Bottas in F1. The Finnish driver had set his sights on the Grove-based team for his future in the Circus, but the sudden availability of the Spaniard changed everything. With his chance at Sauber/Audi gone, the ten-time Formula 1 race winner has settled at Mercedes as a third driver.

A rookie-heavy season inevitably means the departure of several veterans—drivers who have shaped the recent history of F1 but have struggled to secure a future. This applies to Daniel Ricciardo (already dropped by VCARB after Singapore), Kevin Magnussen, Sergio Perez, and Valtteri Bottas.

Valtteri Bottas’ exit is arguably the most surprising. His seat at Sauber, at least for 2025, seemed secure. The early signing of Nico Hülkenberg last season was an initial warning sign. The former Mercedes driver sought opportunities elsewhere, but Carlos Sainz’s indecision stalled the driver market for weeks, leading to the final outcome.

Valtteri Bottas Reveals Negotiations with Williams Before Sainz’s Signing
Valtteri Bottas himself has shed light on the behind-the-scenes events of 2024, as reported by RacingNews365: “We were in advanced talks with Williams for a long time. It became my priority after we had initially been in discussions with Ayao [Komatsu] for a seat at Haas. But I decided to focus on Williams.”

“The deal didn’t materialize due to Carlos [Sainz]’s arrival and what he could bring to the team financially. Audi remained an option, and I would have liked that project, but I believe management felt a change was necessary, including among the drivers.”