General
Mercedes masterstroke: Why attracting Bottas is very smart
- Ludo van Denderen
By sharing an old picture of Valtteri Bottas on their own X-channel, Mercedes made it clear to everyone. The Finn will return to the German team next season, where he celebrated his greatest career achievements. Bottas will start working as a reserve driver for Mercedes when his commitment at Sauber expires. And that is a masterstroke from the Germans' point of view.
This season, Bottas proved he is still fast. However, in the uncompetitive Sauber, he hasn't scored any points. Audi - Sauber's new owner - has seen that Bottas can play a significant role in Formula 1. At the end of the day, there is a reason why the team hesitated for a long time about whether or not to continue with him. But there is a young star in the making. Gabriel Bortoleto was on the market, and this was a chance to secure his services. It's bad luck for Bottas.
Why Bottas is the ideal reserve for Mercedes
It's likely that Valtteri Bottas will not be in action in Formula 1 next season. But if George Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli unexpectedly are unavailable for one or more Grands Prix, they will have someone under contract who immediately knows what is required of him at the highest level. Bottas already knows how the team works, so the chance of a good result is high.
In the background, Bottas' knowledge and experience will allow him to play an important role in the development of the Mercedes-Benz W16, which will be racing in 2025. Bottas can serve as a mentor for Antonelli and perhaps even Russell. If one of them unexpectedly has a difficult season, Mercedes has someone in its ranks who could be a fine short-term replacement.
Hulkenberg as a role model for Bottas
Thanks to Mercedes, Bottas gets a lifeline in Formula 1, and who knows where that will eventually lead? Take Nico Hulkenberg, who, after years on the sidelines, was suddenly given a second chance at Haas F1 and has now—the irony—been signed by Audi. I am sure Bottas has this scenario in mind as well. So what better place to stay in the meantime than at Mercedes?
And perhaps Bottas can get his mileage in another racing class next season. With Lamborghini likely to withdraw from the World Endurance Championship, the Iron Lynx team has to look for a new manufacturer. Mercedes-AMG are candidates to join Iron Linx with an LMGT3-spec AMG GT3 EVO. How nice that would be: Bottas helping Mercedes in both F1 and WEC?
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton