Valtteri Bottas Set to Rejoin Mercedes as Reserve Driver for 2025

Valtteri Bottas is slated to return to Mercedes in 2025, taking on the role of their reserve driver and resuming his collaboration with team boss Toto Wolff. The Finnish driver, aged 35, became available as a free agent after his release by Audi-owned Sauber at the conclusion of the current season, having spent three years with the Swiss outfit. Bottas previously competed for Mercedes between 2017 and 2021, during which he secured 10 race victories and 20 pole positions. In his new capacity, he will provide support as a back-up to primary race drivers George Russell and newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Bottas commented, stating: “Returning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased.” He added, “Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1.” Reflecting on his career, he continued, “Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport. I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far.” He concluded by expressing his anticipation: “As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remarked: “It’s great to have [Bottas] back. His impact and contribution in the five years he was with us previously as our race driver was immense.” Wolff further noted, “Along with scoring multiple grand prix wins, he played a vital role in five of our championship victories.” He emphasized Bottas’s technical contributions: “His technical feedback and input were important in helping us to those successes and pushing the team forward. Not only that, but he was also a fantastic colleague and team member.” Wolff also highlighted Bottas’s personal qualities: “His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a firm favourite with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth [Mercedes’ chassis and engine headquarters].” Concluding on Bottas’s new role, Wolff stated: “In his role as reserve driver, all those qualities will be incredibly important in helping us compete for world championships and supporting both George and Kimi on track.” At the season’s concluding race, Bottas had characterized his transfer to Sauber as “a mistake.” The Swiss team, acquired by Audi to serve as the foundation for its official Formula 1 entry in 2026, opted for German veteran Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, this year’s Formula 2 champion, over Bottas.