https://www.planetf1.com/news/valtteri-bottas-non-f1-activities-career-risk-ted-kravitz
Basically, some talking heads think that Valtteri Bottas' off-grid passions (his gin brand, coffee brand, wine brand, cycling, etc.) might be received as a lack of passion for/focus on Formula 1 and could affect his attractiveness for a seat in F1 for 2025.
To this, I call bullshit. F1 is hugely demanding, and anyone capable of balancing that AND outside projects isn't lacking focus. With 10 wins under his belt (in a capable car,) he's done nothing but prove that he can get the job done with a decent car. If they want to hold his feet to the fire when he's been given arguably one of the LEAST capable cars on the grid, then point to his extracurricular endeavors as the reason for lack of performance, they can fuck right off. "Is it the car, or is it the driver" has been the debate for as long as I've been watching F1, so I can only imagine it's been the debate since forever, and when Bottas went from consistent podium finishes and wins with Mercedes to occasional minor points finishes with Alfa Romeo, and now no points with a team at Sauber who's a team in name only, at SOME point, the car has to be brought into consideration along with a driver's ability given the proper tools.
If Bottas doesn't find a seat for 2025... I'll be devastated; I'm not going to lie. But I'll still watch the sport. I love it. But if Bottas and all of his experience and proven talent get's sidelined for anyone else who will inevitably shit the bed in another shit car with a lesser team, I'll lose some respect for it. It's probably a pipe dream, but my hope is Mercedes bring him back, but more likely he'll land at Williams, Haas, or nowhere at all.
F1 is a cruel mistress. Just ONCE I'd like to see an exercise when the God-kings of F1 like Verstappen and Hamilton are tested to compete in machines that simply can't do it. Put Verstappen in a Sauber. Put Hamilton in a Williams. Let's finally put to rest the "driver or car" argument. Make it an exhibition race; if Verstappen takes pole and is leading by 9 seconds halfway through the race in a Haas, I'll shut the fuck up, and concede the 19 other drivers just need to do better.