Valtteri Bottas 'slowly' figuring out his future in Formula One

Bottas initially signed a two-year contract with Sauber, which included an option for the team to extend his stay alongside Zhou Guanyu for the current season. 

The Finn has now revealed that any further extension with Sauber hinges on securing a seat with Audi, as the manufacturer finalises its complete takeover of the Swiss team.

While there were murmurs about Sauber's lukewarm interest in retaining Bottas for 2024, the driver himself has indicated that preliminary talks with Audi for their 2026 entry are progressing positively. 

"[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.

"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."

This development indicates a potential shift in Bottas's career trajectory as he navigates the complexities of Formula 1's evolving landscape.