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 Method 1.
The 35-year-old will go away Sauber on the finish of 2024 and is predicted to switch Mick Schumacher as reserve driver for his former squad Mercedes.
That’s with an eye 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 out there.
With concentrate on maintaining his F1 profession alive, Bottas has determined to not look elsewhere for a full-time racing programme subsequent 12 months, and talking forward of the Qatar Grand Prix, he defined: “It is a acutely aware resolution, I feel it simply comes too fast.
“As an example, 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 a variety of arduous work and a variety of familiarisation to be achieved and all this stuff.
“So yeah, I might fairly take only a little bit of time to determine what’s subsequent and go from there.”
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Staff KICK Sauber C44
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
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 12 months comes a bit too fast.
“2026 remains to be an opportunity to drop [in] the great automobile. My precedence nonetheless stays Method 1. If it is to not be Method 1 in 2026, then it is actually attention-grabbing for me for the long run.”
Though Bottas has turned his again on a full-time drive in 2025, there may be nonetheless the possibility he might compete in one-off occasions, starting together with his confirmed look on the Race of Champions.
“Initially it relies upon if I will be round right here at each grand prix or not,” he mentioned. “If sure then clearly the choices are a little bit bit much less restricted.
“I imply, Indy 500 has all the time been on the record, I have been all the time a fan of V8 Supercars and all these sorts of issues. So for the time being, I am nonetheless fairly open and I simply have to… first I have to determine 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 a little bit 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’ve not actually gone into particulars, however like I mentioned, first I would like to repair what’s the precise day job for ’25 and go from there.”
On this article
Ewan Gale
Method 1
IndyCar
Valtteri Bottas
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