The writing is on the wall for 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Valtteri Bottas following news 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Nico Hulkenberg will become Audi’s first F1 driver in 2025.

It comes as no s▨urprise with rumours of Hulkenberg joining the Swiss outfit a regular occurrence in recent motnsh.

Since returning to F1 with Haas in 2023, Hulkenberg has been one of the midfield’s st🌸ar performers, particularly for his dazzling qualifying displays.

While there is stil🍸l one seat available ✤at Sauber next year, CEO Andreas Seidl has Carlos Sainz top of his wishlist.

Seidl is prepared to wait for Sainz as the Spaniard is keen to see whether Red Bull retain 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sergio Perez or Mercedes have an opening if they decide againsཧt Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

This leaves Bottas - and Zho🐲u Guanyu out of a drive for 2025.

In Bottas’ case at least, it does seem unjustified given that the 𒊎Finn’s performances so far in 2024 have been close to his best.

Bottas is on a run of nine consecutive wins over Zhou in qualifying - only 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Alex Albon and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen are on better streaks against their teammate - and the former Mercedes driver wo𝓀uld have likely scored points on at least two occasions this year had it not been for poor reliability or slow pit stops.

The true level of Bottas’ performances have been masked by Sauber’s lack of pace over the last 13 months, while Zhou isn’t a competitive benchmark 𒆙to compare him with.

Staying at Sauber seems to be completely off the table, with them eyeing up Alpine duo 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Pierre Gasly or 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Esteban Ocon if Sainz decides a move to Switzerland꧋ isn’t for him.

So where could Bottas end up?

Haas

Haa✃s’ look certain to be signing Oliver Bearman for 2025.

Bearman starred in his one-off appearance for S꧂audi Arabia, com🐼bined with Haas’ Ferrari links.

Alongside Bearman, Haas will be keen to have an experienced driver alongside ജhim to lead the team - but also nurture h♉im.

Haas could retain 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Kevin Magnussen, who has been racin🦂g for them since 2017 (2021 aside).

If ꦇfancy a change - and an upgrade on Magnussen - then Bottas would be a go💦od choice.

Bottas is a great team player and helped Zhou a lot during his rookie🥃 year back in 2022.

Bottas has the edge on Magnussen i♒n terms of pace wജhile lacking the Dane’s combative nature.

Williams

A return to back where his F1 career꧋ started could be a possibil📖ity for Bottas.

The Finn enjoy🐼e🌱d four great seasons at Williams before moving to Mercedes in 2017.

Bottas helped Williams to two consecutive third-place finishes in the constructors’ championship, sc♐oring nine podiums with him.

It would be a poetic end to his F1 career, but more importantly, would give Wiᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚlliams an i🌜ncredibly strong line-up in the midfield.

Bottas alongside Albon would be an incredibly potent pa♋iring, espec🗹ially with the midfield being so close.

His chances of returning to Williams will ultimately come down to ♈whether Andrea Kimi Anto🍎nelli is handed the Mercedes drive or not.

Should Mercedes feel that Antonelli is not ready, he will probably be placed in Williams like 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell was for a few years.

Alpine

A leftfield option for Bottas could be Alpine.

Ocon and Gasly are reportedly unhappy with the situation at Alpine and are assessing option𓃲s elsewhere.

The duo are also on Audi’s w🉐ishlist for 2025, meaning a vacancy could open.

While Alpine’s 𒁃o📖n-track performance is below-par, they are still a works outfit.

U🧔ltimately Bottas to Alpine comes down to whether Gasly🌺 or Ocon decide to jump ship.

Retirement

Bottas has achieved more than mo🎃st in his F1♛ career.

10 victories, 20 pole positions and 67 podiums is an impressi🌸ve set of statistics ಌ- what else is there left to achieve?

A return to a top team is incredibly unlikely and by joining Williams or Haas, Bottas would be set for a few m൩ore years in the midfield.

Given that he’s only 34, and remains blisteringly quick, a move to another motorsport cꦍategory or simply focused on his passions outs🍒ide of F1 - coffee and cycling - could be the best move for him.