Rumors
'Wolff brings Bottas back to Mercedes in a special role'
Valtteri Bottas is likely to continue his career at Mercedes as a reserve driver. The Finn has no interest in driving in another racing class as early as 2025 and may even get a special role with his former team.
Valtteri Bottas will lose his seat at Sauber after this season. They have opted for Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in 2025. Most of the seats have already been secured so there is no place on the grid for Bottas in 2025. The Finn looks set to return to Mercedes after his earlier stint as a driver between 2017 and 2021.
According to Christian Fittipaldi, a cousin of Emerson Fittipaldi, Bottas may not be going as just a reserve driver. The latter states in a Brazilian podcast that sources close to Bottas reveal that Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff would even like to bring him to the team as his personal advisor.
Bottas to Mercedes
Bottas and Wolff have been working together for quite some time. Wolff has managed Bottas since his junior years, which also made the switch from Williams to Mercedes in 2017 easier. Bottas himself could not yet comment on all the rumours in Las Vegas.
"Life goes on. There's lots of exciting things ahead. And I'm fine with it. It's a tricky sport. I think I got into a bit unlucky situation in terms of hanging on to the last seat on the grid and when that doesn't happen then obviously you're out for now," he said.
"The way my kind of active F1 driving career ended for now. It wasn't the best way that you can't really decide yourself. I feel like still I have lots to give for the sport and I still love it. I love the racing against best drivers in the world, in the best cars in the world. That's what I love. I'm just trying to figure out now what is the next move. I don't really have that much more. I'm taking it day by day. There's some interesting stuff on the table," he continued.
In any case, Bottas does not envisage a move to another racing class. "For me at the moment I feel like jumping into a new category comes quite quick. We're all almost in December. So I think that would be more realistic for if I didn't find a seat in Formula One during 25 or for 26 then probably would be from 26 but it's all these things that I need to kind of try and try and plan, but the picture is starting to form in my head what is the ideal situation."
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton