Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes as a third driver for the 2025 Formula One season – “His feedback will help us,” says team principal Toto Wolff
The question of what Valtteri Bottas plans to do next after his departure from Sauber as a Formula One regular driver has been answered: the Finn is returning to Mercedes as a third driver for the 2025 season, as the team confirmed on Thursday.
“I’m glad to finally be able to answer the question that has been on my mind for the past few months,” says Bottas, who previously drove for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021.
“Returning to the Mercedes family as a third driver in 2025 feels like coming home, and I couldn’t be happier. I would like to thank Toto, the team in Brackley and everyone at Mercedes for this warm welcome.”
With ten Grand Prix victories, 20 pole positions and 67 podium finishes – 58 of which have been with Mercedes – Bottas can already look back on an impressive career, but he emphasizes that he still has a lot to contribute to Formula 1.
What’s next… pic.twitter.com/bTJDVtlLZ4
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 19, 2024
“Despite the challenges of the last few years, I know that I still have a lot to offer Formula One. Ever since I started as a five-year-old boy in Nastola, Finland, my goal has always been to succeed in the premier class of motorsport.”
“In my twelve years in Formula One so far, I have experienced many incredible moments. Now I am returning to the place where many of these moments were created. I look forward to applying all my knowledge to help the team achieve our goal of competing for the world championship.”
Wolff is convinced: Bottas’ feedback will help us
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also paid tribute to Bottas’s achievements so far: “His influence and contribution in the five years he has been a regular driver with us has been immense. Not only has he won several Grands Prix, but he has also played a crucial role in five of our title wins,” he emphasized.
“His technical feedback and input were important in achieving these successes and in advancing the team. But not only that, he was also a fantastic colleague and team member. His dry sense of humor and his friendly nature made him a favorite of everyone in Brackley and Brixworth.”
“In his role as reserve driver, all these qualities will be incredibly important to help us fight for both world championships and support both George and Kimi on the racetrack,” Wolff is sure.
Back at Mercedes after three years with Sauber
George Russell and newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be Mercedes’ official driver duo in 2025. Former Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher will leave the team at the end of 2024, with Bottas taking his place.
Between 2017 and 2021, the Finn made a decisive contribution to the brand’s five consecutive constructors’ titles as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate.
After losing his regular spot in 2022, Bottas joined Sauber for three years, which was still operating under the name Alfa Romeo in its first season.
Things started promisingly, with a couple of points finishes. However, Sauber, which is in transition to an Audi factory team from 2026, has not been able to build on this recently. For 2025, the team parted ways with its current drivers and signed Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
