Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur hints at Valtteri Bottas team-mate decision

Mexico City Grand Prix

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Alfa Romeo boss Vasseur hints at Bottas team-mate decision

Alfa Romeo and Michael Andretti could not complete a deal after investment talks

Sam Hall & Ewan Gale

Wednesday 10 November 2021 14:45

Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur has hinted Antonio Giovinazzi could stay at the team by explaining the importance of stability heading into F1's new rules for 2022.

Giovinazzi's future is up in the air with the Italian's seat the only spot up for grabs ahead of next year, with multiple drivers in the running to take over.

Names previously touted were Nyck de Vries, Oscar Piastri, Guanyu Zhou and Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire, with Chinese driver Zhou the favourite with what is believed to be a heavily-funded backing.

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The picture was even cloudier when Colton Herta was in the running before Michael Andretti's takeover broke down.

But with the radical changes being brought into the sport next season, the experience with the team that Giovinazzi would carry over could prove valuable and keep him in F1.

Asked if continuity was a good thing for the team, Vasseur replied: "Yeah, it’s already the question to know if we have interest to change [both drivers] with the new regulations or if, with the new regulations, stability is important.

“We know that the preparation will be very short with the two times three days [test] and it could be less with the reliability or other issues.

“It means that we have to be ready from the first stage also because we know perfectly that in this kind of championship that it is very often on the first event that you can score the big points for the midfield team.

“And it is true that it is a factor into the decision but it is not the only one.”

Vasseur believes the team's shareholders have sent a "very strong message" after failing to agree on a deal with Andretti.

Andretti walked away from talks to acquire an 80 per cent stake in Islero Investments, the Swedish-owned, Swiss-based company that runs Sauber and in turn the Alfa Romeo F1 team, at the end of October.

Speaking at a press conference to unveil new rookie IndyCar signing Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti denied "financial reasons" were behind the breakdown citing instead that "control issues changed".

Asked why, from an Alfa Romeo point of view, talks stalled, Vasseur said: “I didn’t make any comment before, I won’t start to make comment now.”

As for where the decision leaves Alfa Romeo, Vasseur believes the pressure has increased to perform strongly in future seasons.

“I think that it is a very strong message that the current shareholders sent to the company and that it was really appreciated by everybody," added Vasseur.

“It is also a huge pressure on the shoulders but I hope that all the team members and all the employees of the company, and the first one is myself, we are feeling the pressure.

“And I think it is a positive pressure to get results in the future.”