After missing out on a full-time seat for 2025, Valtteri Bottas is poised for a return to Mercedes. The Finn is set to become a reserve driver for the Silver Arrows, as team principal Toto Wolff explains.
Wolff: Mercedes would be “super lucky” to sign Bottas
Valtteri Bottas was one of numerous casualties in this year’s highly volatile driver market.
The 10-time winner failed to secure a contract extension, with Sauber instead choosing to put Gabriel Bortoleto alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
Despite this, Bottas is not ready to abandon hopes of racing in Formula 1. His plan is to stay active in the paddock next season, positioning himself for any seats that could become available in 2026 and beyond.
Confirmation that General Motors/Cadillac will become F1’s 11th team in 2026 will only boost the 35-year-old’s chances of returning to the grid.
It is understood that Bottas is close to agreeing a deal to become Mercedes’ reserve driver.
Discussions already underway
Team principal Toto Wolff has spoken transparently about negotiations with Bottas:
“Nothing is signed, nothing is done,” he told Viaplay in Las Vegas.
“But if we were to have him [Bottas] back in the family, we would be all full of joy.
“What you can say is that if you have the opportunity to have a driver like Valtteri back in the Mercedes family, with his ability, with his recent experience of these modern cars – you can deem yourself super lucky.
After discussing the tedious nature of F1 contract talks, Wolff concluded by saying – “it’s a matter of time.”
A stop-gap for Bottas
Nico Hulkenberg is the most recent example of a driver who returned to the grid after becoming a reserve.
Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto’s surprise appearances in 2024 are another reminder that opportunities can present themselves.
For Bottas, joining Mercedes gives him a chance to continue present in the paddock next year.
This will be useful when the driver market begins to kick into gear as teams finalise their 2025 line-ups.
