Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes as third driver for 2025 F1 season after exit from Sauber | F1 news

Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes as the team’s new third driver for the 2025 season.

The experienced Finn has been left without a race seat on next year’s Formula 1 grid after being released by Sauber and was expected to return to Mercedes, where he won 10 races as a team-mate of Lewis Hamilton from 2017 to 2021, on a back. – superior role

Mick Schumacher was a reserve driver at the team for the past two seasons, but the German announced his departure last month to pursue other opportunities in motorsport.

With Hamilton leaving the team for Ferrari, 18-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been given the vacant seat alongside George Russell.

“I’m happy to finally answer the question I’ve been asking myself for the last month. Coming home to the Mercedes family as the third driver for 2025 is next and I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Bottas, who made it clear in the final weeks of the season his bid for a race seat in F1 from 2026.

“I want to thank Toto (Wolff), the team at Brackley and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me with open arms.

“Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know I still have a lot more to contribute to F1. Ever since I was a five-year-old boy growing up in Nastola, Finland, my goal has been to achieve success. al top level of motorsport, I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12-year F1 career.

“As I return to the place where so many of these moments were achieved, I look forward to using all the knowledge I have gained to help the team perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for the world championships.”

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, said he was delighted to see the Finn’s popular return, describing the 35-year-old’s impact on the team during his first five years with them, a period in which they won the Constructors’ Championship in every year. season – like “immense”.

“His technical feedback and input were important in helping us achieve these successes and moving the team forward,” added Wolff.

“Not only that but he was a fantastic colleague and team member. His dry sense of humor and pleasant nature made him a firm favorite with everyone in Brackley and Brixworth.

“All these qualities will be incredibly important in helping us compete for world championships and supporting both George and Kimi on track.”

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