Valtteri Bottas is coming dwelling.
The Finnish driver introduced on Thursday that he was returning to Mercedes for the Formulation 1 season, because the group’s reserve driver. Bottas spent 5 F1 seasons driving for Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton, serving to the group win 5 consecutive F1 Constructors’ Championships.
Bottas drove for Alfa Romeo — which turned Sauber this previous yr — for the previous three seasons however was out of a task when the group introduced that Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto could be their drivers for 2025, forward of the group changing into the Audi works operation in 2026.
That kicked off hypothesis concerning Bottas’ choice for 2025, fueled by the motive force’s humorous “[w]hat’s subsequent?” posts on social media.
Now we all know.
“I’m pleased to lastly reply the query I’ve posed over the previous month. Returning dwelling to the Mercedes household as Third Driver for 2025 is what’s subsequent and I couldn’t be extra happy,” mentioned Bottas within the group’s announcement. “I wish to thank Toto, the group at Brackley, and everybody on the three-pointed star for welcoming me again with open arms.
“Regardless of the challenges of the previous few years, I do know that I’ve nonetheless bought a lot extra to contribute to F1. Since I used to be a five-year-old child rising up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on attaining success within the high tier of motorsport,” added Bottas. “I’ve been lucky to have loved many unbelievable moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 to date. As I return to the place the place so a lot of these moments had been achieved, I’m trying ahead to utilizing all of the data I’ve gained to assist the group to carry out and progress in the direction of our aim of preventing for world championships.”
The group introduced the transfer on social media in good trend, with a picture that includes the motive force’s distinctive mustache and mullet:
Mercedes Group Principal Toto Wolff sang the motive force’s praises.
“Welcome dwelling, Valtteri! It’s nice to have you ever again. His influence and contribution within the 5 years he was with us beforehand as our race driver was immense,” mentioned Wolff. “Together with scoring a number of Grands Prix wins, he performed an important position in 5 of our championship victories. His technical suggestions and enter had been necessary in serving to us to these successes and pushing the group ahead.
“Not solely that, however he was additionally a incredible colleague and group member. His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a agency favorite with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth. In his position as Reserve Driver, all these qualities will probably be extremely necessary in serving to us compete for world championships and supporting each George and Kimi on monitor.”
Mercedes could have George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli as their driver pairing for 2025. However with Bottas, they acquire a driver with spectacular F1 expertise, and as Wolff famous the power to supply wonderful technical suggestions all through the season, a vital part within the position of reserve driver.
In addition they get one of many sport’s finest personalities in addition.
