Every race weekend is now an opportunity for the drivers on the grid to prove they deserve a race seat next year.
Thirteen drivers know they’re currently in a precarious position with their contracts expiring at the end of the season.
Speaking to Autosport, one driver believes they’ve already taken a step ahead of their rivals to secure their future.
The teams at the front of the grid are going to have their pick of the available drivers for 2025.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is under contract but there’s still speculation over his future and until that’s determined, Mercedes won’t make their move either.
That leaves Carlos Sainz in a difficult position as he would be interested in a move to Red Bull but doesn’t want to wait forever to sign his next contract.
All of this indecision is beginning to trickle down the grid but is giving other drivers time to prepare for every eventuality.
Valtteri Bottas is one of those drivers but he believes he’s now a step ahead when it comes to finding a drive for 2025.
He’s already made his ‘number one’ choice for next year and beyond clear, but if that isn’t possible he needs to explore other options.
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Valtteri Bottas wants to be ‘a step ahead’ in search for 2025 F1 seat
The Finnish driver – who has 10 race wins to his name – is in a difficult position.
He’s one of the most experienced drivers on the grid and would offer any team still developing their car some exceptional feedback.
Ahead of major regulation changes in 2026 when teams will be working furiously to figure out the best solutions, that could be a key skill.
However, on the track, his performances have stood out and he’s yet to score a point this season.
That’s not entirely his fault with disastrous pit stops hampering his races in Bahrain and Australia and potentially costing him his first point in Melbourne.
Bottas is now trying to make sure he’s a step ahead of the rest of the grid when looking at his options for 2025.
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Valtteri Bottas wants to secure Formula 1 future
Speaking about his preparations for next year, Bottas said: “[I’m] slowly, slowly getting the ball rolling. But nothing fundamental yet.
“I think we need a few more [races this season] under our belt, and hopefully with a good few results, the ball will roll a bit more, but not much yet.
“That’s why you need to try and be one step ahead.
“That’s what my management is working on in the background.
“I focus on the driving, and I’ve got people in the background, trying to read the market and work on different options if that will be needed.
“I don’t really actually want to put any specific number on how many years I have [left], just because I don’t see the end coming yet.
“I still feel like I have lots to give and lots to achieve. Now my motivation is to get back closer to the top. I miss that feeling of fighting more towards the front end.
“Obviously, being part of Audi, that could be a great opportunity for me to do that. So of course, that’s interesting for me.”
Who could Valtteri Bottas drive for next year?
With Bottas hoping to be a step ahead of everyone heading into 2025, getting Sauber to sit down and discuss his future seems like the most logical option.
Audi’s arrival is on the horizon and it would allow him to prove he’s the right man for the newest works team in Formula 1.
While a move to Mercedes is within the realms of possibility, if he was their desired option for next year, it would suggest that he’s only a stop-gap before the arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
It’s hard to see him fitting in anywhere else on the grid unless the likes of Alpine, Haas or old team Williams were searching for a more experienced driver.
The best thing Bottas can do now is prove he’s the best of the rest in the chasing pack in Suzuka and beyond.
The post ‘Trying to read the market’: 10-time winner wants to be ‘one step ahead’ of his rivals in 2025 seat search appeared first on F1 Oversteer.