Bottas admits return to ‘Mercedes family’ among 2025 options

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Valtteri Bottas has revealed that he would consider a return to Mercedes as a reserve driver in 2025 if he finds himself without a seat at Sauber/Audi. However, his primary focus remains securing a spot on the Formula 1 grid for next season.

Bottas, who enjoyed five successful seasons with the Silver Arrows between 2017 and 2021, left the team when George Russell was promoted to a race seat alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas enjoyed all of his ten career wins in F1 with Mercedes, claiming his maiden Grand Prix triumph in Russia in 2017.

The 35-year-old has spent the last three seasons with Sauber and the Finn remains a candidate for the remaining seat at the team alongside Nico Hulkenberg for 2025.

However, with Audi also considering a younger driver for its lineup, Bottas’ future remains uncertain.

Read also: Bottas still waiting on Sauber – denies financial hurdle

While awaiting clarity on his fate with the Swiss outfit, Bottas acknowledged the need to explore other possibilities if Sauber chooses youth over experience.

“Firstly, the priority is to stay as a race driver, that’s what I want, and that’s what I’m pushing for with Mattia [Binotto],” he said.

“But, of course, as I don’t have anything signed – we’re in October – I’ve got to look at all the alternatives including going back to the Mercedes family.

“That’s for sure one option and I would consider it but there’s other options as well, as well as going back to my priority, which is to be a race driver even more.”

Bottas revealed that he remains in frequent communication with Audi-Sauber boss Mattia Binotto who was brought in last summer by Audi to lead the German manufacturer’s F1 project.

“We are in an almost daily basis, keeping in touch with Mattia – sometimes about technical stuff, sometimes about the future,” he added.

“We’ve pretty well agreed everything in terms of the terms and stuff like that. Now it’s just, the ball is in their camp so I’ll keep waiting and doing my job.”

In terms of Audi’s alternatives, McLaren protégé Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams rookie Franco Colapinto have been singled out by Binotto as potential candidates.

However, the former Ferrari team boss has given no indication of which direction the team is leaning or if either young talent has a clear edge in securing the seat.

For now, though, Bottas remains committed to staying on the grid in a full-time capacity, as he awaits Sauber’s decision on his future.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.