Mercedes confirmed on Thursday that Valtteri Bottas will return to the Brackley-based Formula 1 squad as its official reserve driver.
Bottas raced for the Mercedes squad as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate from 2017 through 2021, scoring 10 wins, 58 podiums and 20 pole positions during five seasons.
The Finn then embarked on an ill-fated three-year deal with Sauber which coincided with dwindling performance for the Swiss-based squad.
In 2024, Bottas scored zero points due to an uncompetitive C44 and found himself without a drive as Sauber signed Nico Hulkenberg and Formula 2 Champion Gabriel Bortoleto for 2025.
However, with Mick Schumacher freeing up a reserve driver vacancy at Mercedes, Bottas has returned to the team that has given him the best years of his career to date.
“I’m happy to finally answer the question I’ve posed over the past month,” said Bottas.
“Returning home to the Mercedes family as Third Driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased. I want to thank Toto [Wolff], the team at Brackley, and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me back with open arms.
“Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1.
“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.
“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.”
Toto Wolff: Bottas’ Mercedes return ‘incredibly important’
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff is delighted to see Bottas return to the Mercedes fold and believes the Finn will be integral as the German marque looks to achieve more world titles.
The Austrian said: “Welcome home, Valtteri! It’s great to have you back.
“His impact and contribution in the five years he was with us previously as our race driver was immense,” Wolff added.
“Along with scoring multiple Grands Prix wins, he played a vital role in five of our championship victories.
“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.
“His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a firm favourite with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth.
“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.”
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