Valtteri Bottas has revealed he turned down a suggestion to drive in IndyCar full-time subsequent season however insisted he’s open to tackling the Indianapolis 500 – although his major focus stays on Formulation 1.
The 35-year-old will depart Sauber on the finish of 2024 and is anticipated to switch Mick Schumacher as reserve driver for his former squad Mercedes.
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That’s with a watch to a return to the grid in 2026 for the brand new period of F1 racing, as regulation modifications are enforced whereas Cadillac’s recently-announced entry boosts the variety of seats obtainable.
With give attention to preserving his F1 profession alive, Bottas has determined to not look elsewhere for a full-time racing programme subsequent yr, and talking forward of the Qatar Grand Prix, he defined: “It is a acutely aware determination, I feel it simply comes too fast.
“To illustrate, for instance, leaping right into a full IndyCar season after 12 years of F1, I simply really feel prefer it comes a bit too fast as a result of it is loads of exhausting work and loads of familiarisation to be accomplished and all this stuff.
“So yeah, I would reasonably take only a little bit of time to determine what’s subsequent and go from there.”
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Group KICK Sauber C44
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Requested if he had any approaches for an IndyCar change, Bottas replied: “Sure, I’ve had talks and approaches at this level. I’ve made it fairly clear that subsequent yr comes a bit too fast.
“2026 continues to be an opportunity to drop [in] the great automotive. My precedence nonetheless stays Formulation 1. If it is to not be Formulation 1 in 2026, then it is actually fascinating for me for the longer term.”
Though Bottas has turned his again on a full-time drive in 2025, there’s nonetheless the prospect he may compete in one-off occasions, starting along with his confirmed look on the Race of Champions.
“To begin with it relies upon if I’ll be round right here at each grand prix or not,” he mentioned. “If sure then clearly the choices are slightly bit much less restricted.
“I imply, Indy 500 has all the time been on the listing, I have been all the time a fan of V8 Supercars and all these sorts of issues. So in the mean time, I am nonetheless fairly open and I simply have to… first I have to resolve truly what’s the subsequent transfer after which we’ll see.
“I’ve not been allowed to do any rallying within the final two years. So it could be good to get again into it slightly bit, have some enjoyable.”
On whether or not he was given an Indy 500-only supply from an IndyCar outfit, Bottas replied: “Not but. I did get a stable supply for ’25 full season, however Indy 500 solely, we have not actually gone into particulars, however like I mentioned, first I want to repair what’s the precise day job for ’25 and go from there.”
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On this article
Ewan Gale
Formulation 1
IndyCar
Valtteri Bottas
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