Valtteri Bottas ‘causing problems’ for Sauber during contract negotiations for next season

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The autumn break in Formula 1 is being used by every team to prepare their cars for the final six Grand Prix weekends of the season.

However, for RB and Sauber, it’s also an opportunity to finalise the last two seats on the grid not confirmed for 2025.

Eighteen drivers already have contracts for next season and RB have made their move by replacing Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson for the United States Grand Prix.

That doesn’t mean the young Kiwi is definitely going to be racing alongside Yuki Tsunoda next season but Ricciardo appears to have stepped away from the sport for good.

That leaves Sauber as the sole remaining team who are yet to announce their pairing for their final campaign on the grid before becoming Audi.

Nico Hulkenberg is coming to the end of his time with Haas before switching to the Swiss manufacturer.

It appears as though Valtteri Bottas is going to be joining him in 2025, however, a report from Blick suggests that might not necessarily be the case.

Bottas was using the time between Singapore and Austin to race in the Gravel World Championships.

READ MORE: Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

While he’s been concentrating on competing on two wheels, his representatives continue to focus on his short-term future in F1.

It’s said that Bottas has already sacrificed one key contract demand to keep his place on the grid.

However, that might not be enough, and Bottas is still waiting for official confirmation that he’ll continue to be a Formula 1 driver in 2025.

Valtteri Bottas ‘causing problems’ for Sauber during 2025 contract negotiations

The report from Blick highlights how grim this season has been for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber as they continue to search for their first point.

Audi’s new head of F1 Mattia Binotto wanted a fast revolution to their second seat conundrum but that hasn’t arrived.

Ted Kravitz believes Zhou Guanyu is destined to become a reserve driver, meaning Bottas is only competing with less experienced young drivers for the seat.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

However, the report says that Bottas has ‘already been confirmed to be causing problems’ for Sauber.

This is because he wants a ‘better contract with more money’, however, Sauber appear reluctant to accept this demand.

The likes of Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto would be cheaper options if that’s a concern for Sauber.

Bortoleto’s connection to McLaren could be an issue but Colapinto is proving race after race that he’s ready to earn a full-time Formula 1 seat.

Juan Pablo Montoya shares who he thinks deserves Sauber’s second 2025 F1 seat

With only ten teams on the grid and a growing sense that the majority of manufacturers want to promote from within their academies, making the final step up from the junior series is becoming increasingly difficult.

Drivers like Bottas, who have proven year after year to be very strong options for midfield teams make taking a gamble on a rookie even more unlikely.

However, Juan Pablo Montoya believes Bortoleto deserves to race for Sauber after another impressive campaign.

After winning the F3 championship last year, Bortoleto leads the way in Formula 2 ahead of Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar.

Brazil are crying out for a driver in Formula 1 to support, and the surge in interest in neighbouring Argentina in Colapinto highlights the need for the sport to bring in drivers from around the world.