Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team have announced that Valtteri Bottas, who drove for them between 2017 and 2021, will be returning as their Third Driver for the 2025 F1 season.
After making his Formula One debut with Williams Racing in 2014, Bottas replaced Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in 2017, partnering Lewis Hamilton. The Finn scored 10 Grand Prix wins in the five seasons he spent with the Silver Arrows and finished second in the Drivers’ Standings two times as well as third two times. The 35-year-old also played a key role in helping Mercedes win five Constructors’ titles.
After three underwhelming seasons with Alfa Romeo/Sauber, Bottas was left without a seat for the 2025 season, but now he is set to return to the F1 grid and will attend most of the races, supporting Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Speaking about his Mercedes return, Valtteri Bottas commented:
“I’m happy to finally answer the question I’ve posed over the past month. Returning home to the Mercedes family as Third Driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased. I want to thank Toto, the team at Brackley, and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me back with open arms. Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1. 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. I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far. As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.“
Toto Wolff, Team Principal, Mercedes AMG, said:
“Valtteri’s impact and contribution in the five years he was with us previously as our race driver was immense. Along with scoring multiple Grands Prix wins, he played a vital role in five of our championship victories. His technical feedback and input were important in helping us to succeed and pushing the team forward. Not only that, but he was also a fantastic colleague and team member. His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a firm favourite with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth.
“In his role as Reserve Driver, all those qualities will be incredibly important in helping us compete for world championships and supporting both George and Kimi on track. Welcome home, Valtteri! It’s great to have you back.“
Also read: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Sponsors 2024
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