Mercedes confirmed on Thursday that Valtteri Bottas will join the team as a reserve driver for the 2025 season after the Finn and Kik Sauber split after the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Bottas drove for Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton for five seasons from 2017 to 2021, earning all ten of his career wins and 20 pole positions in Formula One.
He will join Sauber, known as Alfa Romeo, for the 2022 season after Mercedes decided to promote George Russell to replace him. The Finn has had inconsistent results with the Swiss team, from a good 10th place in 2022 to failing to score in 2024.
When Kick Sauber decided not to re-sign Bottas for 2025 – instead of a combination of Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoletto, the Finn began discussing a reserve role to stay in talks with Mercedes. 2026.
“In addition to scoring many Grand Prix wins, he played a key role in our five championship wins. His technical feedback and input were crucial in helping us achieve those successes and driving the team forward. Not only that, he was also a great colleague and team member. His His dry sense of humor and personality made him a favorite at Brackley and Brixworth,” said Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff.
“In his role as reserve driver, all those qualities will be incredibly important to help us compete for the world championship and support both Jorge and Kimi on track.”
“Coming home to the Mercedes family as the third driver in 2025 is something else and I couldn’t be happier,” said Bottas.
“Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know I still have a lot to contribute to F1,” he added. “Since I was a 5-year-old growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success at the top level of motorsport.
“I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many incredible moments during my 12-year career in F1 so far. Returning to the place where many of those moments were achieved, I look forward to using all the knowledge I have gained to help the team perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for a world championship.”
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