Valtteri Bottas has returned to former workforce Mercedes as a reserve driver, following his departure from Stake Sauber.
The longer term Audi workforce opted for a brand new driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and rookie System 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto for 2025 and ’26 because it evolves right into a full works constructor, leaving Bottas with out a race seat for subsequent season. Having gained 10 races for Mercedes between 2017 and 2021, the Finn will now be a reserve to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
“I’m completely satisfied to lastly reply the query I’ve posed over the previous month,” Bottas stated, referencing his “What Subsequent?” marketing campaign. “Returning residence to the Mercedes household as third driver for 2025 is what’s subsequent and I couldn’t be extra happy. I wish to thank Toto [Wolff], the workforce at Brackley, and everybody on the three-pointed star for welcoming me again with open arms.
“Regardless of the challenges of the previous few years, I do know that I’ve nonetheless bought a lot extra to contribute to F1. Since I used to be a five-year-old child rising up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on reaching success within the prime tier of motorsport. I’ve been lucky to have loved many unimaginable moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 thus far.
“As I return to the place the place so a lot of these moments have been achieved, I’m trying ahead to utilizing all of the information I’ve gained to assist the workforce to carry out and progress in the direction of our aim of combating for world championships.
Group principal Wolff says Bottas’ affect on the workforce’s previous successes past his personal outcomes shouldn’t be neglected, having helped Mercedes win the constructors’ championship in each season collectively.
“Welcome residence, Valtteri!” Bottas stated. “It’s nice to have you ever again. His affect and contribution within the 5 years he was with us beforehand as our race driver was immense.
“Together with scoring a number of grands prix wins, he performed a significant function in 5 of our championship victories. His technical suggestions and enter have been necessary in serving to us to these successes and pushing the workforce ahead.
“Not solely that, however he was additionally a unbelievable colleague and workforce member. His dry humorousness and personable nature made him a agency favourite with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth. In his function as reserve driver, all these qualities will probably be extremely necessary in serving to us compete for world championships and supporting each George and Kimi on monitor.”
