Valtteri Bottas has revealed he would be open to returning to Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season should he be dropped by Sauber/Audi.
The current Sauber driver departed the Silver Arrows back in 2022 when he was replaced by George Russell, who has remained alongside Lewis Hamilton since.
Bottas achieved 10 victories over the five seasons with Mercedes, including a maiden career victory at the 2017 Russian Grand Prix.
Sauber, who will taken over by Audi for the 2026 F1 season, is yet to announce who will be its second driver to partner Nico Hulkenberg next season.
At last weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Bottas told the media that he has agreed terms with the team and is waiting on the green light to seal the deal.
However, speaking to Sky F1, Bottas explained how he’s got to keep his options open in case the Hinwil-based squad elects to go in another direction.
“Firstly, the priority is to stay as a race driver, that’s what I want, and that’s what I’m pushing for with Mattia [Binotto],” he said.
“But, of course, as I don’t have anything signed – we’re in October – I’ve got to look at all the alternatives including going back to the Mercedes family.
“That’s for sure one option and I would consider it but there’s other options as well, as well as going back to my priority, which is to be a race driver even more.”
Bottas to ‘keep waiting and doing my job’
Back in July, it was confirmed that Binotto would replace former McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl as the new leader of the nascent Audi F1 venture.
The ex-Ferrari boss now has the tough decision of deciding who will get the open seat, with Bottas having held regular discussions with him since his appointment.
“We are in an almost daily basis, keeping in touch with Mattia – sometimes about technical stuff, sometimes about the future,” he added.
“We’ve pretty well agreed everything in terms of the terms and stuff like that. Now it’s just, the ball is in their camp so I’ll keep waiting and doing my job.”
Many drivers are being considered alongside Bottas including Sauber team-mate Zhou Guanyu, McLaren Junior Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams’ Franco Colapinto.
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