Formula 1 News: Bottas admits Mercedes role ‘very likely’ for 2025 (2nd Update)

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits it is “very likely” he will replace Mick Schumacher as Mercedes’ main Formula 1 reserve driver in 2025.

The Finn’s final race for Audi-owned Sauber fittingly ended with a crash – and a points count of zero for the season. “It’s good that this part of my career is over now,” he told Viaplay.

“We’ll see what the future brings.”

On site to watch what could be the 35-year-old’s last grand prix as a race driver was his father Rauno. “I wouldn’t be that certain that it’s his last race,” Bottas senior smiled to the same broadcaster.

“It’s a weird feeling at the moment but it’s hard to say more for now.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted in Abu Dhabi that a deal for Bottas to return to the team as a reserve driver is “looking good”.

Rauno smiled but would not comment, while Valtteri gave a little more away as to what lays ahead for 2025. “I’ll probably still see you here on site and hopefully I’ll get to test as much as possible.

“And then at some point, come back to race,” said the 10-time Mercedes race winner.

“It’s a really good option. We’ll see next week. It’s a very likely option,” Bottas admitted.

What nobody can take away from Bottas is that, while serving as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, he finished second in the championship twice – and third twice.

“Yes, I can be proud of this,” he said, smiling: “Everyone else can try to do better.

“I’ve been racing all my life and I always aimed for Formula 1. And quite a lot has been achieved here. This is not the optimal way to end, of course.”

As for his immediate plans, Bottas revealed: “In Finland, you jump into the sauna pretty quickly.”

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits he is in talks with his former boss Toto Wolff about returning to Mercedes in 2025.

The 34-year-old Finn is not being retained by Audi-owned Sauber, which was the last remaining vacancy on next season’s grid – with the possible exception of Sergio Perez’s race seat at Red Bull.

“I have a feeling that not everyone at Red Bull likes me for some reason,” Bottas smiled after the Las Vegas GP, according to Finnish broadcaster MTV. “So that’s hardly an option.”

Bottas has already admitted that a full-time reserve seat is probably now his best option for 2025 – opening up the possibility of a return to the grid for 2026.

When asked if he might be interested in the likely new Cadillac entry for 2026, Bottas admitted: “Yes, could be.”

Wolff confirmed over the Las Vegas weekend that Mercedes would be “lucky” if Bottas wanted to return to the team next year, with contracts already being exchanged between lawyers.

“We have discussed,” Bottas, who won 10 grands prix as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate between 2017 and 2021, admits. “We’ve been talking for quite a long time, but of course this weekend we’ve been focusing a lot on the race.

“But nice words from him, and I’m sure we’ll be in touch again soon. Of course I want to look at all my cards, but when you look at that (Mercedes option), there are many positive things. To return to the Mercedes family – a great team.

“And it’s a great brand that can create a lot of opportunities for the future. So, yes, that is an option and I’m grateful that there are some who are willing to take me on for that role.”

It would, of course, be a big challenge for a driver with almost 250 grands prix to his name, including 10 wins and 67 podiums, to have to attend all 24 grands prix next season merely on stand-by.

“That’s the thing,” Bottas said. “If (the reserve) isn’t at all the races and something happens and you’re not there, you don’t get the chance.

“You have to think about things like that and you also have to talk about them with them with the team. I’m still trying to think about what comes next.”

(GMM) Toto Wolff is no longer hiding his interest in reuniting Valtteri Bottas with Mercedes.

It is strongly rumored that the 34-year-old Finn, ousted by Audi-owned Sauber for 2025, could try to relaunch his Formula 1 race career for 2026 by spending next season as Mercedes’ official reserve and an advisor to Wolff.

“Nothing has been signed, nothing is ready,” team boss Wolff told Viaplay in Las Vegas. “But if we could get him back in the family, we would all be full of joy.

“When it’s possible to get a driver like Valtteri back, you can consider yourself very lucky,” added Wolff, who paired Bottas with Lewis Hamilton between 2017 and 2021, resulting in 10 wins for the Finn.

Also rumored is that Bottas’ new Mercedes role could involve the world endurance championship, as Mercedes-AMG is teaming up with LMGT3 team Iron Lynx from 2025.

Wolff says the Bottas deal is currently with the lawyers.

“You know what contract negotiations are like – lawyers always want to make contracts breakable,” the Austrian smiled. “No, the lawyers are wonderful and it is only a matter of time.”