Valtteri Bottas is poised to return to Mercedes as their 2025 reserve driver. Bottas has lost his Sauber seat following deals for Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
The Finnish driver was linked with multiple teams in the Formula 1 driver market, but ended up pinning his hopes on Audi. It came down to a shoot-out between Bottas and Bortoleto, and Mattia Binotto ultimately favoured youth.
Bottas doesn’t want to retire just yet, but there were no other seats available for the 35-year-old. Mercedes had already signed Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton as George Russell’s teammate.
But he left on good terms at the end of 2021 after five seasons as a reliable and dutiful deputy to Hamilton. That’s why Toto Wolff is ready to bring Bottas back.
Mercedes will have a more experienced reserve than any of their fellow frontrunners. He could provide invaluable feedback during test sessions, and also guide the rookie Antonelli.
Bottas will be eyeing Cadillac for 2026 after the General Motors subsidiary agreed a deal to join the grid. His presence at Mercedes will keep him visible.
Mick Schumacher could lose Mercedes role thanks to Valtteri Bottas
According to German publication sport.de, ex-Haas man Mick Schumacher may have to officially retire from Formula 1 if the Bottas deal is completed. He’s been carrying out the reserve role this year.
Theoretically, he could take on a different position within the set-up or share duties with Bottas. But Mercedes also have Esteban Gutierrez and Frederik Vesti on their books, and the report suggests this could mark the end of Schumacher’s involvement.
The German hasn’t raced in F1 since he lost his Haas drive at the end of 2022. He hoped to return to the grid with Alpine, Williams or Audi but he wasn’t at the top of any of their shortlists.
The Bottas reunion is ‘not good news’ for Schumacher. Whether he leaves Mercedes or just takes on reduced responsibilities, his ‘primary focus’ is likely to be on the 2025 World Endurance Championship.
Why it will hurt Toto Wolff to let go of Mick Schumacher
Wolff has been an outspoken advocate of Schumacher since he joined the Mercedes family. The Silver Arrows worked with his father between 2010 and 2012, though that predated the Austrian’s involvement.
He backed Schumacher to do a ‘perfect’ job at WEC level, keeping himself ‘sharp’ and possibly impressing F1 suitors. But a comeback never looked likely.
A potential opportunity emerged at the end of August when Williams sacked Logan Sargeant. But James Vowles said Schumacher wasn’t ‘special’ as he went for Franco Colapinto instead.
Vowles was ‘devastated’ after these comments and issued an apology amid a fan backlash. But they likely caused further damage to Schumacher’s reputation before Audi turned him down.
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