By F1 correspondent Michael Butterworth

SUZUKA, Japan, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas says he still aspires to challenge for wins and championships despite a lean few years in the sport.

The Finn, who has ten Grand Prix wins to his name, joined the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo team in 2022, after five years as teammate to Lewis Hamilton at the all-conquering Mercedes outfit.

Moving from a championship-winning team to a midfield runner meant a lowering of expectations, and Bottas has not finished in the top three of a Grand Prix since leaving the Silver Arrows.

The Finn has yet to score a point in 2024, as Sauber has struggled with problems at pitstops across the season's first three races, but Bottas said he had not given up hope of one day returning to the winner's dais.

"Absolutely, I do," the Finn told Xinhua when asked if he still felt capable of winning again in F1.

"I miss fighting at the front, so that's my motivation and my target, to get back up there one way or the other. I still have many years ahead of me, and I'm hungry for wins and podiums."

At 34 years old, and with 226 Grand Prix starts to his name, Bottas is one of the most experienced drivers on the current grid. He said he had no plans to quit F1 in the near future, citing the career longevity of 42-year-old Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso as an inspiration to follow.

Asked how much longer he planned to stay in F1, Bottas replied, "At least five more years. Fernando is a great example that you can extend your career quite a bit. I don't see the end coming soon. At the moment, there's no limit, or [stopping] point. For me, the priority is still F1."

Along with 12 other F1 drivers, Bottas is currently out of contract for next year, and while the Finn said his priority was to remain with Sauber, he added that he was keeping an open mind about other opportunities.

"We will start to talk soon," Bottas said of contract renewal discussions with Sauber. "It's been busy with the first few races, and it's still early days [in the season]. I think decisions will be made quite soon, but of course we need to look elsewhere.

"I'm fully on the open market at the moment, so need to keep all options open and see what's going to be the best for the future, but [remaining with Sauber] would still probably be my priority."

Sauber is currently in a transitional period, having lost its Alfa Romeo naming rights at the end of last year as the team prepares to be fully taken over by Audi in 2026, and Bottas noted that he and others were eagerly anticipating the German automaker's arrival and the resultant increase in investment.

"There's a clear plan to be a manufacturer team with a big brand. It's exciting, and lots of people in the team seem motivated because they want to be involved with Audi," said Bottas.

"It is a great brand, [which] means greater resources, and a greater chance of doing well, so it's good news." Enditem

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