Valtteri Bottas reveals he was close to Ferrari: “It’s a life-changing choice”

Valtteri Bottas seems relaxed, with the identical genial and pleasant demeanor that comes throughout when watching him on TV. Above all, he’s smiling and able to speak with excessive calm and nice professionalism about each subject he’s requested about. That is how the Finnish driver arrives, carrying a Mercedes shirt, sporting his signature mustache, and dressed casually as if for a day on the seashore, within the Imola paddock for an unique interview with Formula1.it, lastly fulfilling a long-awaited and sought-after assembly with some of the well-known personalities within the paddock—in style, if you’ll, however undoubtedly too usually underestimated and concurrently criticized throughout his profession within the high tier of motorsport. A journey, at the moment paused, that Valtteri himself desires to renew as quickly as potential. Maybe as early as 2026, when he hopes to be prepared for a possible name from an F1 workforce, a class for which he’s removed from “completed.”

Prepared for a comeback

For that reason, the 35-year-old from Nastola is retaining himself match each bodily and mentally, having accepted the function of reserve driver for the Mercedes workforce. He retains his helmet prepared for testing alternatives, each with the Brackley squad and with McLaren, the place he serves because the third driver, whereas staying absolutely engaged with the present F1 scene to maintain tempo with a world that strikes quick. Whereas the previous Williams driver prepares for his return to the Circus, he additionally took the chance to mirror on his System 1 profession, which amongst different achievements, noticed him win ten Grands Prix and contribute to years of success with Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton, probably the most profitable driver in F1 historical past, who this yr accepted a transfer to Ferrari. Bottas spoke about his former teammate’s resolution, emphasizing how such a transfer represents a life-changing alternative, thrilling and interesting for any driver.

“I can perceive his resolution; typically change is critical, and I consider that for him, shifting to Ferrari is a superb alternative. It’s a alternative that adjustments your life, and I believe it’s a great one, for him and past.”

These sliding doorways…

Moreover, past sharing his opinion on the seven-time world champion’s life-changing resolution, Valtteri Bottas additionally revealed a big backstory from his personal profession, disclosing that he too had been near a Ferrari swap between 2015 and 2016. On the time, Maranello was serious about him as a possible substitute for the opposite Finnish driver who was at Ferrari then: Kimi Raikkonen. A real sliding door second that, in the present day, the Mercedes reserve driver remembers with a smile however that would have dramatically altered the course of his profession.

“It’s true, I used to be additionally near Ferrari up to now, however a few years have handed since then. However right here we’re, and ultimately, nothing got here of it.”

Aug 15, 2025Elena Rossi

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