close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Audi

Bottas responds to Alfa Romeo's Audi distraction

Audi — Photo: © LAT Images
1 reactie

Bottas responds to Alfa Romeo's Audi distraction

Sauber will become the Audi factory team in 2026

Additional reporting by Sam Hall

Valtteri Bottas is confident Alfa Romeo will not be distracted by its Audi future across the next 12 months.

Sauber will end its sponsorship arrangement with Alfa Romeo at the end of 2023 ahead of becoming the Audi factory team when the new power unit regulations come into force for 2026.

The backing of a major manufacturer has led to expectations rising to unseen levels within the team since its partnership with BMW that ran from 2006 to 2009.

Speaking in an end-of-season interview with GPFans, Bottas was asked how the atmosphere had changed, to which he replied: "Everyone has understood that for this team it's a great opportunity in the future, which definitely gives good stability.

“Once everything was announced, everyone talked about it, and then it was like ‘Okay, back to work, and let's focus for this year and next year’ because, obviously, next year nothing changes, we're still Alfa Romeo."

Despite Bottas' claims, Audi is already having an effect as Andreas Seidl has been lured from his role as McLaren team principal to join as Sauber CEO.

This move, although not directly instigated by Audi, has been praised by the automotive giant.

Bottas added: “Everyone still feels like that Audi thing is quite far away but everyone feels it's positive in the future.”

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Mercedes used 'world's favourite IT solution' to fix George Russell's car at Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes used 'world's favourite IT solution' to fix George Russell's car at Chinese Grand Prix

  • 2 hours ago
McLaren launch investigation over 'faulty' F1 parts in Chinese Grand Prix disaster

McLaren launch investigation over 'faulty' F1 parts in Chinese Grand Prix disaster

  • 3 hours ago
Max Verstappen is the real winner over F1 race cancellations

Max Verstappen is the real winner over F1 race cancellations

  • Yesterday 21:42
Honda issue statement on Aston Martin 'excuse' after double DNF at Chinese Grand Prix

Honda issue statement on Aston Martin 'excuse' after double DNF at Chinese Grand Prix

  • Yesterday 20:56
Max Verstappen hits back at awful F1 starts: 'I'm not an idiot'

Max Verstappen hits back at awful F1 starts: 'I'm not an idiot'

  • Yesterday 20:13
Does F1 have a backup plan? FIA confirm review of controversial energy rules after Chinese GP

Does F1 have a backup plan? FIA confirm review of controversial energy rules after Chinese GP

  • Yesterday 19:27

Just in

15-3
Mercedes used 'world's favourite IT solution' to fix George Russell's car at Chinese Grand Prix
15-3
McLaren launch investigation over 'faulty' F1 parts in Chinese Grand Prix disaster
15-3
Max Verstappen is the real winner over F1 race cancellations
15-3
Honda issue statement on Aston Martin 'excuse' after double DNF at Chinese Grand Prix
15-3
Max Verstappen hits back at awful F1 starts: 'I'm not an idiot'
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

Max Verstappen is the real winner over F1 race cancellations F1 News & Gossip

Max Verstappen is the real winner over F1 race cancellations

Yesterday 21:42
Max Verstappen hits back at awful F1 starts: 'I'm not an idiot' Chinese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen hits back at awful F1 starts: 'I'm not an idiot'

Yesterday 20:13
F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does F1 Oscars

F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does

Yesterday 17:46
Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix

Yesterday 16:56
Ontdek het op Google Play
x