Successes with Mercedes
Aside from winning the World Championship, Valtteri Bottas managed to achieve good milestones in F1, especially after Nico Rosberg’s unexpected retirement from racing at the end of 2016, which led Toto Wolff to turn to the Finn. During Mercedes’ golden years, Valtteri Bottas collected 67 podiums, 10 wins, and 20 pole positions, but even those who have experienced the most genuine joys in the Circus face challenges.
Zero points?
The hardest challenge is undoubtedly what #77 is currently facing behind the wheel of the Sauber, soon to be Audi. Never, not even in his early days with Williams, has Valtteri Bottas been at risk of finishing a championship without scoring any points in the Drivers’ Championship. This danger seems to be growing as the checkered flag of this championship approaches, with six races still to be held.
Concerns for 2025
A 13th place in Monaco and another in Canada are his best finishes, reflecting the Swiss team’s crisis, which is still without points, with Valtteri Bottas appearing closer to giving up after 11 consecutive years in the top 10. “It would be a blow for me and for what I have achieved in my career so far,” he commented to the media. “We expect next year to be difficult, and I don’t think there will be any miracles.”
The Audi project
Zero points that add to doubts about Valtteri Bottas’ future in Formula 1, as he hopes to start a new journey at Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg before Audi’s arrival in 2026, despite some skepticism in the paddock: “You can’t commit too much in 2025 due to the big changes for 2026, and from what I’ve seen, Audi could be competitive in ’26, but it won’t be easy,” the former Mercedes driver continued. “It’s tough to jump into a new sport against manufacturers that have all been here for a long time, but I think 2026 could be a good year. Trying to win right away is a daunting task. That’s the harsh reality. Scoring points regularly, however, is more realistic for the new team.” – the Finnish driver concluded.
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