Valtteri Bottas’ advice to Gabriel Bortoleto for 2025: “Don’t be too hard on yourself”. Former Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas addressed Gabriel Bortoleto.

Valtteri Bottas without a seat
For the first time since his Formula 1 debut in 2013, Valtteri Bottas will not be on the starting grid for the upcoming championship. The Finn will not hold an official driver role with any team but will remain involved as Mercedes’ reserve driver, a team he raced for from 2017 to 2021, achieving all 10 of his career victories.

The new Sauber
Valtteri Bottas’ stint with Sauber came to an end after the previous season, as the team completely overhauled its lineup, not retaining #77 or his former teammate Guanyu Zhou. Instead, they signed Nico Hülkenberg and Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto. Coming off a season where the Swiss team scored only 4 points and finished last in the Constructors’ Championship, and with its main focus on the 2026 season (when Sauber will be acquired by Audi), Valtteri Bottas expects 2025 to be a particularly challenging year, especially for the Brazilian rookie.

Advice
The Finn offered his direct advice to Gabriel Bortoleto, anticipating a tough season: “My advice is always not to be too hard on yourself and to give yourself some time,” Valtteri Bottas told the media. “It takes a long time to learn in this sport, but drivers today are well-prepared and have a lot of support. I think he’ll do well, but I expect a tough season. The regulations won’t change for next year, and the cars teams have now won’t change drastically. I don’t think it will be an easy season for a rookie, but with Nico alongside him, he’ll have a lot to learn from. Nico has a lot of experience, but yes, I expect a difficult season.”