Valtteri Bottas has secured a role as Mercedes' reserve driver following his departure from Stake Sauber, marking a return to the team where he achieved 10 race victories between 2017 and 2021.

The move comes after Stake Sauber's decision to field Nico Hulkenberg and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto for their 2025-26 lineup as they transition to becoming Audi's works team. In his new position, Bottas will serve as backup to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

"Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport," Bottas said. "I know that I've still got so much more to contribute to F1."

Team Principal Toto Wolff emphasized Bottas' previous contributions to Mercedes, highlighting his role in five constructors' championship victories. "His technical feedback and input were important in helping us to those successes and pushing the team forward," Wolff stated. "His dry sense of humor and personable nature made him a firm favorite with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth."

Bottas played a crucial role during his initial tenure with Mercedes, contributing to the team's dominance in Formula 1 while serving as both a race winner and a reliable teammate. His technical expertise and team-oriented approach will now support Mercedes' pursuit of future championships in his reserve driver capacity.

Related Articles

Previous Articles