F1: Valtteri Bottas to rejoin Mercedes as reserve driver for 2025 season
Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2025 season, the Formula One team announced on Thursday, following his departure from Sauber at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old spent five seasons at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, racing alongside Lewis Hamilton before moving to Alfa Romeo, which later became Sauber.
Bottas’ time at Sauber saw him finish 10th in his first season but did not win a point in 2024.
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“I’m happy to finally answer the question I’ve posed over the past month. Returning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased,” Bottas said in a statement.
“I want to thank (team boss) Toto (Wolff), the team at Brackley and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me back with open arms.”
Mercedes’ lineup for the next season will feature George Russell and Italian 18-year-old debutant Kimi Antonelli, with Hamilton moving to Ferrari.
Bottas secured 10 Grand Prix wins and finished on the podium 58 times during his time with Mercedes.