Valtteri Bottas returns to Mercedes as the team's new third driver for the 2025 season.
The experienced Finn was left without a Formula 1 racing seat next year after being released by Sauber and was expected to return to Mercedes, where he won 10 races as a team-mate with Lewis Hamilton from 2017 to 2021, at the rear. -up role.
Mick Schumacher has been the team's reserve driver for the past two seasons, but the German announced his departure last month to pursue other opportunities in motorsport.
After Hamilton left the Ferrari team, 18-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli was given the vacant race seat next to George Russell.
“I'm happy to finally answer the question I've been asking for the past month. Returning home to the Mercedes family as the third driver for 2025 is what's next and I couldn't be more pleased,” said Bottas, who made it clear in the final weeks of the season his desire for a place in F1 from 2026.
“I want to thank Toth (Wolff), the team at Brackley and everyone in the treble for welcoming me with open arms.
“Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know I still have a lot to contribute to F1. From a five-year-old growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport. I have been fortunate to enjoy many incredible moments in my 12 years of F1 racing so far.
“As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I look forward to using all the knowledge I have gained to help the team perform and progress towards our goal of competing for a world championship.”
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, said he was delighted to see the popular Finn return, describing the 35-year-old's impact on the team during his first five years with them – a period in which they won the constructors' championship every season – as “enormous”.
“His technical feedback and input was important in helping us achieve those successes and pushing the team forward,” added Wolff.
“Not only that, but he was a fantastic colleague and team member. His dry sense of humor and personable nature made him a firm favorite with everyone in Brackley and Brixworth.
“All those qualities will be incredibly important to help us compete for the world championship and to support George and Kimi along the way.”
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