F1 News: Valtteri Bottas Impressed With Brand New Concept For 2024 Sauber Car

Sauber F1 team driver Valtteri Bottas is impressed with the concept of what will be a completely new car for 2024. This positive development enhances the team's prospects for the upcoming year following a challenging 2023 season.

Under the name of title sponsor Alfa Romeo, the Swiss outfit dropped from the sixth spot to the ninth spot in the Constructors' Championships after scoring only 16 points. 

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A fresh approach was needed so the team had to start from scratch under technical director James Key for next year's car. Expressing relief that 2023 was done with, and stressing the need for a new car, Bottas revealed:

“I'm glad that it's over now.

“And next year, everyone starts from zero again. There's been many, many changes in the team lately. And I think positive changes.

“Also, the concept of next year's car looks interesting. So in that sense, I do have hopes. But now we need to need to work hard for that and try again.

"The main thing is we need a new car. And it needs to be different. So that's, I would say the biggest take we take from this year, clearly we've hit the end with this car's development, we just haven't been able to find any anything big. So the whole concept needs to be different. That's what we've learned.

"From what I've seen, I'm happy, because there are differences. I think that's what we need. So many question marks, it's still early days. But at least we're seeing progress, and the last few weeks have been actually quite productive at the factory."

Bottas added that the new staff on board has been offering a much-needed boost. He revealed:

“I feel like with some new people we have, including James, there starts to be stuff happening.

“He has obviously lots of knowledge even from this year's McLaren, so for sure there's good information coming from different people. So that is good to see. I think that's what we needed.”

Concluding on a difficult year, Bottas highlights that one plus point among all the other challenges. He said:

"I think the races that we had the pace for the points, I think we managed to get them.

“So ultimately the issue was we didn't have the pure pace this year to be in top 10. We didn't have a quick enough car. So that's the name of the game.

"It's not the last place, which is good, but it's a small step, but still not as good as last year. I mean, it was a difficult year. We were hoping to finish better. But that's what it is now. And now we need work for the future.

"We tried everything we could, but it was a difficult year. So lots to learn from, and now we need to look ahead, and stay motivated and stay confident."