Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes

Bottas revealed as Third Driver for upcoming F1 season

German Formula One team Mercedes have announced that Valtteri Bottas, who drove for the team between 2017 – 2021, will be returning to the team for the 2025 season as the team’s Third Driver. 

After making his Formula One team with Williams Racing in 2014, Bottas replaced Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in 2017, partnering Lewis Hamilton. Bottas scored 10 Grand Prix wins in the five seasons with the Silver Arrows, and finished second in the Drivers’ standing twice and twice he finished third in the Drivers’ championship. Bottas also played a key role in helping Mercedes win 5 Constructors’ titles. 

After three underwhelming seasons with Alfa Romeo/Sauber, post leaving Mercedes, Bottas was left without a seat for the 2025 season but will return to the Silver Arrows and attend most of the races in the 2025 season and support Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and debutant Kimi Antonelli.

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.”