The return of Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in the role of reserve driver for the 2025 season is proving to be far more valuable than what television cameras have shown or could capture. After losing his race seat at Sauber at the end of the 2024 season, Bottas – who claimed ten Formula 1 Grand Prix victories with Mercedes between 2017 and 2021 – made his comeback to the team’s headquarters in Brackley. He brought with him not only an immense amount of racing experience, but also clarity of thought, a calm presence, a dry sense of humour, and a discreet yet essential contribution to the team’s overall performance.
The ‘bro’ of Kimi Antonelli
Valtteri Bottas’s work goes well beyond simply being on standby to replace either George Russell or young Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli in the event one of them becomes unavailable for a session. During race weekends, he takes an active role in technical briefings, spends hours working in the team’s state-of-the-art simulator, and even participates in the Mercedes social media and promotional activities.
According to Bradley Lord, Mercedes communications chief and team spokesperson, having Bottas back within the Mercedes family is a major advantage. Lord has stressed that Bottas offers not only years of racecraft and elite-level driving skills, but also the sharp, analytical vision of a seasoned Formula 1 driver. This expertise, Lord explained, is extremely valuable not just for Kimi Antonelli’s development but also for the team’s engineers, who benefit from his clear and concise feedback.
In addition to his technical input, the Finnish driver has brought a much-needed touch of lightness and humour to a highly competitive and pressure-filled environment where tensions can easily become overwhelming. His personality and attitude have been especially helpful for Kimi Antonelli, who is facing the monumental challenge of adapting to the demanding world of Formula 1 in his debut season. This is why Bottas has affectionately earned the title of “big brother” to the young Italian talent.
Focused on 2026 goals
Bottas is performing his role as reserve driver with complete dedication, yet as Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has also acknowledged, he remains fully focused on his ultimate ambition: to return to the Formula 1 grid as a full-time race driver in 2026. Bradley Lord confirmed this, noting that the Finn’s main priority is to secure a seat for next season, and that he is more than qualified to do so. However, Lord also underlined that if such an opportunity does not arise, Mercedes would be more than willing to continue their collaboration with him in the same capacity.
Among the potential destinations being discussed in the paddock for Valtteri Bottas’s return as a race driver, the strongest rumours link him to the newly formed Cadillac Formula 1 team, possibly as a teammate to Mexican driver Sergio Perez.
Our meeting with Valtteri Bottas
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of interviewing Valtteri Bottas exclusively, and the experience offered us a closer look at many aspects of his personality that are not always visible to the public. He is the epitome of a team player, someone who prioritises collective success over personal glory. While it may not be easy to see him back on the starting grid in a full-time role, his continued presence in the paddock would still be a fantastic asset for Formula 1 – and we sincerely hope that it will be for many years to come.
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