Valtteri Bottas is coming dwelling.
The Finnish driver introduced on Thursday that he was returning to Mercedes for the Components 1 season, because the group’s reserve driver. Bottas spent 5 F1 seasons driving for Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton, serving to the group win 5 consecutive F1 Constructors’ Championships.
After Mercedes made the choice to pair Hamilton with George Russell for the 2022 season Bottas drove for Alfa Romeo — which grew to become Sauber this previous 12 months — for the previous three years. Nevertheless, Bottas was out of a task when the group introduced that Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto could be their drivers for 2025, forward of the group turning into the Audi works operation in 2026.
That kicked off hypothesis concerning Bottas’ determination for 2025, fueled by the motive force’s humorous “[w]hat’s subsequent?” posts on social media.
Now we all know.
“I’m joyful to lastly reply the query I’ve posed over the previous month. Returning dwelling to the Mercedes household as Third Driver for 2025 is what’s subsequent and I couldn’t be extra happy,” mentioned Bottas within the group’s announcement. “I need to thank Toto, the group at Brackley, and everybody on the three-pointed star for welcoming me again with open arms.
“Regardless of the challenges of the previous few years, I do know that I’ve nonetheless obtained a lot extra to contribute to F1. Since I used to be a five-year-old child rising up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on attaining success within the prime tier of motorsport,” added Bottas. “I’ve been lucky to have loved many unimaginable moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 to this point. As I return to the place the place so lots of these moments have been achieved, I’m wanting ahead to utilizing all of the data I’ve gained to assist the group to carry out and progress in the direction of our purpose of combating for world championships.”
The group introduced the transfer on social media in excellent trend, with a picture that includes the motive force’s distinctive mustache and mullet:
Mercedes Staff Principal Toto Wolff sang the motive force’s praises.
“Welcome dwelling, Valtteri! It’s nice to have you ever again. His impression and contribution within the 5 years he was with us beforehand as our race driver was immense,” mentioned Wolff. “Together with scoring a number of Grands Prix wins, he performed a significant function in 5 of our championship victories. His technical suggestions and enter have been necessary in serving to us to these successes and pushing the group ahead.
“Not solely that, however he was additionally a incredible colleague and group member. His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a agency favorite with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth. In his function as Reserve Driver, all these qualities shall be extremely necessary in serving to us compete for world championships and supporting each George and Kimi on observe.”
Mercedes may have George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli as their driver pairing for 2025. However with Bottas, they acquire a driver with spectacular F1 expertise, ten profession grand prix victories, 20 pole positions, and as Wolff famous the flexibility to supply glorious technical suggestions all through the season, a crucial part within the function of reserve driver.
Additionally they get one of many sport’s greatest personalities in addition.