Valtteri Bottas clarifies his future while he is Mercedes’s ideal mentor: “I need a project …”

Valtteri Bottas It is demonstrating that it is not necessary to be on the track in the big prizes to be important. This season is being fundamental for the Andrea Kimi Antonelli debut In Formula 1 with 18 years. Feedback, tips and experience is helping Italian to adapt much faster. However, in an interview for ‘Top Gear’, he explains that he still wants to pilot: “My goal is to compete again. Of course, I am focused on my work, but at the same time I have to be alert to opportunities. ”

35 years and much to offer

The age to say goodbye to the great circus is very relative, some pilots like Fernando Alonso (43) or Lewis Hamilton (40) continue to compete today. The Finn believe that he can still contribute a lot from the car: “I still feel that I have some more years ahead and that I can give even more to this sport. That is my feeling. But, again, it is a sport in which it is difficult to predict how things will evolve and if we will have another chance. ”

The 2026 season will arrive with many novelties, among the main ones, is the entrance of Cadillac In the competition. Bottas would see with good eyes a possible signing for the new team: “I don’t see the sense of doing just one season Just to be in Formula 1. But I need a clear project. And I think It’s a good example With a new team. It would be very refreshing to start from scratch. ”At the moment, several pilots are in the view of the team.

Mercedes is enjoying the services of a veteran who knows the house perfectly. Toto wolff I could try to convince Finn to abandon the idea of ​​leaving the team. In any case, the Adaptation of ‘Rookie’ It is being a success and has the whole season to nurture knowledge, something that Bottas does not have in its plans to continue maintaining: “If a place available in a car where we can fight for good points, or even podiums or victories, then, of course, it would be delighted.”

Hamilton still reminds him

The seven -time world champion shared some of his best years with Bottas as a partner In Mercedes. In his first year he is having difficulty adapting to Ferrari. In statements after the Miami Grand Prix, the Briton set him as an example after his lack of understanding with Charles Leclerc: “It would have been great if we could have done something like Valtterias I did in the past, separate myself to see if I could reach Antonelli, if not, give him the position. ”