Formula 1 Rumor: Bottas could be Mercedes test driver in 2025 (2nd Update)

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas could be more than just Mercedes’ reserve or ‘third’ driver from 2025.

It has been rumored that the Finn, whose expiring contract with Sauber was not renewed by new team owners Audi, will stay in Formula 1 next year by returning to Mercedes, where he won 10 grands prix as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate until 2021.

But now, former F1 driver Christian Fittipaldi, thinks the 35-year-old’s role at Mercedes from 2025 will involve more than just reserve duties.

Citing his own sources, Fittipaldi – whose uncle is the F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi – believes Bottas could replace new Ferrari deputy team boss Jerome d’Ambrosio’s former role as a key advisor to Mercedes chief Toto Wolff.

“What I was told at the track is that it looks like he (Bottas) will return to Mercedes and be a bit of an advisor to Toto.

“Valtteri has experience and history with them and his move back to Mercedes would make all the sense in the world. Toto values his experience a lot and believes in what he can add to the team,” the 53-year-old Brazilian explained.

“Don’t forget that Jerome d’Ambrosio has gone to Ferrari now, so there is room for Bottas. I’m not entirely sure if his role will be similar, but I do think he will be there,” Fittipaldi told the Pelas Pistas podcast.

One of Bottas’ latest social media posts shows him getting a tattoo on his thigh declaring: “What’s next?”

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas has confirmed rumors that a return to Mercedes could be among his ‘plan B’ options for 2025.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher said in Austin that he has heard from the Finn’s entourage that Bottas could serve as a Mercedes test driver next year.

“Firstly, the priority is to stay as a race driver – that’s what I want,” said Bottas. “And that’s what I’m pushing for with Mattia (Binotto).”

Binotto is the new Audi F1 boss, who is weighing up between 34-year-old Bottas’ proven race-winning experience or a young driver like Franco Colapinto or Gabriel Bortoleto.

That would explain Sauber’s delay in naming Nico Hulkenberg’s 2025 teammate – because Binotto would need to discuss the aforementioned young drivers’ contractual ties to their current teams, Williams and McLaren respectively.

Regarding Bortoleto, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said: “We’re very happy, obviously, with our two drivers, and we would never want to hold a racing driver back in his career.

“So we’ll kind of see how things play out.”

As for the impressive Colapinto, he’s being linked not only to Audi-Sauber, but also Red Bull’s second team RB.

“From the (race) seat point of view, I think it’s looking very tough for next year,” the Argentine, whose sponsor Mercado Libre is being dominantly displayed on the Williams in Mexico, said.

“But maybe you should ask James (Vowles), he’s been speaking a lot about it,” Colapinto smiled on the Fast And The Curious podcast.

With an outside shot at Bottas’ Audi-Sauber seat is departing Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, but the Dane has been much more strongly linked with a move to IndyCar – or a non-driving role at Haas.

“On paper, there is a chance,” he said when asked about the Audi-Sauber seat.

“Otherwise, I don’t have any plans for next year. We’ve talked with Haas about doing something together, but it won’t be racing. So who knows what will happen.”

It’s an uncomfortable situation for Bottas, who for now simply needs to wait for Binotto’s answer by the team’s self-imposed mid-November deadline.

“As I don’t have anything signed – and 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,” he said.

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ Formula 1 racing career may either be over, or he may become a reserve driver (bench warmer) for his old team.

After Singapore, the Finn seemed to be heading for a new one-year deal with Audi-owned Sauber – but the situation changed dramatically over the subsequent three-weekend break.

During that time, younger options Mick Schumacher, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto were linked with the vacant race seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg for 2025.

“At the moment it seems to be more up to Mattia (Binotto) than me,” Bottas, 34, told the STT news agency in Austin. “I remain positive because I believe I am the best option, but of course there is a risk that I won’t get the place.

“But we have also established a good connection with Mattia since he arrived. We have discussed my future and also technical issues.”

Binotto, the new overall boss of the Audi F1 project, revealed that he met up with Mick Schumacher in Austin and “I explained to him that nothing has been decided yet”.

As for Colapinto, Williams boss James Vowles is offering him on loan to Audi, and in Austin confirmed that he is yet to officially be told “no”.

“I wouldn’t rule out Franco being on the starting grid next year,” he said.

The amiable and impressive rookie Colapinto, meanwhile, also seems to think he still has a chance, joking after the US GP: “Maybe next year, if I don’t have a seat, I’ll become a strategy engineer instead.”

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Whoever ultimately secures the Audi-Sauber deal, it will not be the one-year stop-gap deal that has been rumored recently. “We are looking to the future and trying to build a team,” Binotto told Viaplay in Austin.

“A one year deal would not make sense from that point of view, so we are negotiating a multi-year contract,” he added, estimating that a decision will be made by mid-November at the latest.

As for Bottas, it might not be good news.

“I’ve heard that Bottas will return to Mercedes as a test driver in 2025,” former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher said on Sunday.

The Swiss newspaper Blick reported that Schumacher, who is Mick Schumacher’s uncle, learned the information directly from Bottas’ entourage.