F1 | Valtteri Bottas nearly returned to the track in Baku, could have replaced a Mercedes driver. Valtteri Bottas was close to driving the Mercedes W16 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas came very close to making a surprise return to Formula 1 behind the wheel of the Mercedes W16, as he was reportedly set to participate in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. While Bottas is preparing for his official F1 comeback with Cadillac in 2026, he could have taken the wheel of a Mercedes car months earlier. This revelation comes from Toto Wolff, who has never hidden his admiration for the Finnish driver, who this year has served as Brackley’s third driver and mentor to young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli. In the end, however, the dream scenario did not materialize, thanks in large part to a “heroic” George Russell.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is now behind us, but several stories from Baku will continue to capture attention all the way to Singapore. Perhaps the most significant concerns the World Championship itself: Max Verstappen’s victory, coupled with Oscar Piastri’s crash and Lando Norris’ disappointing performance, seems to reopen the battle in the Drivers’ Championship. It is still early to claim that the fight is fully back on, but the Dutch driver is determined to keep the championship fight alive until the very end.

Mercedes, on the other hand, experienced a particularly eventful weekend. On one hand, Andrea Kimi Antonelli finally found his rhythm, securing a crucial fourth-place finish that could be vital for his future in the F1 circus. On the other hand, George Russell delivered yet another flawless performance, confirming his exceptional form. Yet it was this very British driver who risked not being able to compete at all.

Bottas on the verge of replacing George Russell

Weakened and running a fever, the Brackley driver decided at the very last minute to take the wheel of his W16. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas was warming up on the sidelines. “George’s performance was truly admirable, especially considering that his participation was uncertain until Friday morning,” Toto Wolff explained. “We were ready to put Valtteri in the car.”

“It was George himself who told us he wasn’t sure he could drive. Then he started to feel a bit better and decided to give it a try. He drove perfectly for three days, making no mistakes during the race. A well-deserved second place,” concluded the Mercedes team principal.