Coming "home"

Fixed: Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes!

Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes and becomes reserve driver. The racing team announced the news on Thursday afternoon.

The Finn finished second in the 2019 and 2020 World Championships with Mercedes. "Returning to the Mercedes family as the 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," says Bottas.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is also delighted: "In his five years with us, Valtteri has made a significant contribution to our success - welcome back! His in-depth technical knowledge has been crucial to our winning streak, and his dry sense of humor has made him a popular employee. I am happy that we can count on his experience."

"In his role as reserve driver, all these qualities will be incredibly important to support us in the fight for both world championships and to help both George (Russell; editor's note) and Kimi (Antonelli) on the race track," said Wolff.

No place at Sauber/Audi
There was no more room for Bottas at Sauber/Audi for 2025. The Finn and Guanyu Zhou contested their last race in Abu Dhabi; next season, the duo of Nico Hülkenberg/Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for the Swiss racing team.