Valtteri Bottas looks to the future
After 12 seasons as a full-time Formula 1 driver, Valtteri Bottas is sitting on the bench. The Finn did not renew his contract with Kick Sauber, which effectively removed him from Formula 1 for the 2025 championship, as all the seats at mid-to-lower-tier teams had already been filled.
The 1989-born driver returned to Mercedes, where he will take on the role of reserve driver and also mentor Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s development. But for a driver with 20 pole positions and ten wins in F1, this role may feel limiting. Despite finishing 2024 with zero points, Valtteri Bottas still feels relevant and wants an F1 seat in 2026, possibly taking advantage of the grid expansion to 22 cars with the arrival of the General Motors-Cadillac team. If that doesn’t work out, the Finn has a backup plan: IndyCar.
Valtteri Bottas’ words
“At the moment, I think if for some reason I don’t return to Formula 1 in 2026, my focus would probably shift to IndyCar,” Valtteri Bottas said in a recent interview for the RacingNews365 website. “That path could also be interesting, at least for some testing. 2026 is far away, but it will come quickly: my next move is very much tied to 2026, and I’m definitely planning it now.” – he added.
“I will have the chance to do other things as well. The next event is the Race of Champions, which this year is in Sydney. I don’t yet have a clear picture of the events I will participate in, but it’s something I need to start planning.” – the Mercedes reserve driver concluded.
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