JUST IN : Bottas Reflects on Sauber’s Struggles After Vasseur’s Departure: “It All Fell Apart”
Bottas Reflects on Sauber’s Struggles After Vasseur’s Departure: “It All Fell Apart”
Since the departure of former team principal Fred Vasseur, Sauber’s Formula 1 performance has declined, leaving driver Valtteri Bottas struggling to regain competitiveness. Bottas, who joined Sauber (then branded as Alfa Romeo) in 2022 after a successful stint with Mercedes, initially held high hopes of helping the team evolve into a strong midfield contender. However, with Vasseur’s unexpected move to Ferrari at the end of 2022, Bottas and the team faced a series of setbacks that disrupted their plans.
Bottas described his move to Sauber as part of a promising three-year project, led by Vasseur, a respected figure known for his ability to transform teams. The early part of the 2022 season was promising, but Vasseur’s exit altered the team’s trajectory. In a recent interview, Bottas reflected on the impact of Vasseur’s departure, saying, “When I joined, we set certain goals together. Year one was good, especially early on, but after Fred left, everything changed.”
Vasseur’s decision to accept an offer from Ferrari, one of F1’s most prestigious teams, was a pivotal moment for both parties. Since joining Ferrari, Vasseur has made a positive impression, transforming the team’s culture and bringing them back into contention for the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s star driver, praised Vasseur’s leadership, highlighting his focus on fostering an environment where each team member can excel.
While Vasseur’s reputation continues to grow at Ferrari, Bottas has faced challenges at Sauber. The new leadership failed to maintain the original goals set under Vasseur, and Bottas found himself struggling with a less competitive car. “We got a new leadership in the team, and that initial target we set with Fred, it just all started to fall to pieces,” Bottas admitted. “I’m doing my best in terms of development, but things changed, and I’ve been unlucky with the car being the slowest on the grid.”
As Sauber transitions to become Audi’s works team in 2026, Bottas’s future remains uncertain, with no contract in place for 2025 or beyond. He now faces the prospect of ending his career without scoring a single point in 2024. The once-promising project has left Bottas questioning whether he’ll ever return to the front of the grid.
- Ultimately, the decline of Sauber highlights the importance of leadership stability in F1. For Bottas, Vasseur’s departure marked a turning point in his career — and without a clear path forward, he remains uncertain about his future in the sport.
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