Valtteri Bottas is returning to Mercedes as their reserve driver for 2025.
The 35-year-old Finn was a free agent after being launched by Audi-owned Sauber on the finish of this season following three years with the Swiss crew.
Bottas drove for Mercedes from 2017-21, successful 10 races and taking 20 pole positions. He’ll function back-up for race drivers George Russell and novice Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Bottas mentioned: “Returning residence to the Mercedes household as third driver for 2025 is what’s subsequent and I could not be extra happy.
“Regardless of the challenges of the previous few years, I do know that I’ve nonetheless acquired 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 reaching success within the prime tier of motorsport. I have been lucky to have loved many unbelievable moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 thus far.
“As I return to the place the place so a lot of these moments had been achieved, I am wanting ahead to utilizing all of the data I’ve gained to assist the crew to carry out and progress in the direction of our purpose of combating for world championships.”
Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff mentioned: “It is nice to have [Bottas] again. His affect and contribution within the 5 years he was with us beforehand as our race driver was immense.
“Together with scoring a number of grand prix wins, he performed a significant function in 5 of our championship victories.
“His technical suggestions and enter had been vital in serving to us to these successes and pushing the crew ahead. Not solely that, however he was additionally a unbelievable colleague and crew member.
“His dry sense of humour and personable nature made him a agency favorite with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth [Mercedes’ chassis and engine headquarters].
“In his function as reserve driver, all these qualities will probably be extremely vital in serving to us compete for world championships and supporting each George and Kimi on monitor.”
Bottas mentioned on the remaining race of the season that his transfer to Sauber had been “a mistake”.
The Swiss crew has been purchased by Audi as the premise for his or her official entry to F1 in 2026. They most well-liked German veteran Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian novice Gabriel Bortoleto, who gained the Components 2 title this yr, to Bottas.
