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 main focus stays on System 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 adjustments are enforced whereas Cadillac’s recently-announced entry boosts the variety of seats out there.
With concentrate on conserving 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 aware determination, I believe it simply comes too fast.
“For 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 whole lot of laborious work and a whole lot of familiarisation to be performed and all this stuff.
“So yeah, I would moderately take only a little bit of time to determine what’s subsequent and go from there.”
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Workforce KICK Sauber C44
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Requested if he had any approaches for an IndyCar swap, 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 nice automotive. My precedence nonetheless stays System 1. If it is to not be System 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’s nonetheless the prospect he might compete in one-off occasions, starting along 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 stated. “If sure then clearly the choices are a bit of bit much less restricted.
“I imply, Indy 500 has at all times been on the checklist, I have been at all times 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 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 a bit of 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 strong supply for ’25 full season, however Indy 500 solely, we have not actually gone into particulars, however like I stated, first I would like to repair what’s the precise day job for ’25 and go from there.”
On this article
Ewan Gale
System 1
IndyCar
Valtteri Bottas
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