Valtteri Bottas admits the last year or two hasn’t been stable for Stake F1 Team but it isn’t the case of two separate teams within one per se.
Ever since the takeover of Sauber Motorsport by Audi, there has been changes happening within the structure in terms of personnel. People are leaving and joining, with the high profile movements happening as well for the top position.
They announced the departure of Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann in recent time, replacing them with Mattia Binotto. The position of Alessandro Alunni Bravi remains in question too. Whether direct or not, it has seemingly hurt the team’s performance.
At the moment, Stake F1 Team sits at the bottom where there is little chance of leaping up to the mid-pack. Their main goal is to be competitive in 2026 and things are being done for that, sacrificing the current seasons which is frustrating for the drivers.
Bottas notes that the team has been instable for the last year or two. There are no separate teams within the team, but things are done slow with all the changes being made. “Well, definitely the last year or two, it’s not been really stable,” he said. “We’ve not being really super stable as a team because there’s been lots of people leaving, lots of people joining. Now another change in the leadership.
“So for sure that doesn’t help the here and now moment. And even the previous shake-up, it was made for the future and more like for long term. But with the change again, yeah, I think if we’ve had the same, let’s say, leadership and so on for the last few years and that stability, then maybe there’s more time to focus on the issues and solving them.
“But yeah, this team, to me, it’s been pretty clear that all the decisions in the last year or two has been made to be competitive from ‘26. I know it’s not ideal in some cases, and like for me, unfortunately, many times fighting towards the back end, but my job is still to do the very best I can and at the same time push the team and contribute the best I can.
“That’s all I can do at the moment. I wouldn’t say that it feels like two separate teams. Obviously, yeah, there has been a change again and now everyone needs to get to know Mattia better. And yeah, looking forward to actually start working with him. But no, it still feels like one team. But yeah, for sure, like I said, it’s not been super stable lately. But hopefully from now on, things will be a bit more stable and there’s a clear direction,” summed up Bottas.
Here’s Alessandro Alunni Bravi expanding on Mattia Binotto hire
Here’s Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber drivers on Mattia Binotto
Here’s Audi naming Jonathan Wheatley as team principal
Here’s Mattia Binotto joining Audi
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