Valtteri Bottas ‘motivated’ by ‘what I’ve seen throughout the winter’ at Stake Sauber

Follow us on Google Discover

Valtteri Bottas says he is ‘motivated’ by what the Stake F1 Team driver has seen of the Sauber squad’s 2024 car throughout the winter at their factory in Hinwil, Switzerland.

Last year was a ‘disappointment’ for the 34-year-old as Sauber ended the season just ninth in the constructors’ championship. Bottas was ‘expecting more’ in their final year running as Alfa Romeo. But he could only take P15 in the drivers’ standings with 10 points in 22 rounds.

Teammate Zhou Guanyu even only ended the year P18 in the drivers’ championship with six points. Their season was only enough to beat Haas with 12 points, trailing AlphaTauri – who Red Bull renamed Visa Cash App RB – by nine points before taking the name, Stake F1 Team.

Valtteri Bottas offers his initial thoughts on the 2024 Stake Sauber F1 car

Bottas further only finished four Grand Prix in the points during 2023 and failed to score any points in the Sprints. He claimed P8 results at the season-opening Bahrain GP and the Qatar GP. The Finn also claimed 10th place at the Canadian GP and the Italian GP from 20 finishes.

But Sauber have impressed Bottas with the development they have made to their car during the winter ahead of racing as Stake F1 Team in 2024. He expects the car Sauber launched on Monday to be an upgrade on their C43 that Zhou also only scored points in three races with.

“You have to be [motivated],” Bottas told Speedcafe. “It’s my job, even in the harder times. Especially when it’s a new season and, based on what I’ve seen throughout the winter – in terms of progress and all the new things – I am motivated.”

Sauber’s last year as Alfa Romeo was a ‘disappointment’ for Valtteri Bottas

Bottas registered his worst finish to a drivers’ championship since his rookie season in 2013 with Williams last year. The Nastola native had finished his first year with Alfa Romeo in P10 in 2022. But Sauber’s struggles saw him fall to P15 with 39 fewer points than he got in 2022.

Ending the 2022 season with points in Mexico City and Sao Paulo had convinced Bottas that Sauber would have a strong season as Alfa Romeo in 2023. So, their plight disappointed the 10-time Grand Prix winner. But he has gotten over that upset ahead of an important season.

“Mentally, I feel fresh,” Bottas said. “I feel like I’ve been able to process last year. Because, in the end for me, it was a disappointment. In the end, I was expecting more.

“But, now, I feel like I’m 100% over that. I’m motivated and fresh for the new season to try and make a really strong year and showcase what I can do.”

“I really want to have a strong season,” the Finn continued. “Also, when you are going into a contract year, let’s say, you also want to be able to show what you can do.”

Bottas is out of contract with Sauber at the end of 2024 after joining under Alfa Romeo from Mercedes on a multi-year deal in 2022. Likewise, Zhou is also out of contract after 2024. But Sauber have a big decision ahead with the team becoming Audi’s works F1 entry from 2026.