Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed mixed emotions about Valtteri Bottas’ confirmed move to Cadillac’s Formula 1 team for the 2026 season.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks the end of Bottas’ second stint with the Brackley-based squad, where he has served as a reserve driver this year. While Wolff celebrated the Finn’s return to a full-time race seat in F1, he admitted the departure would leave a void in the team.
In his role as Mercedes’ third driver, which he will assume until the end of the current season, Bottas has been a steady presence at most races, helping guide young talent Kimi Antonelli while remaining ready to step in for either the latter or George Russell if needed.
Wolff, who remains part of Bottas’ management team, welcomed the F1 veteran’s comeback but admitted his absence would be felt within the Mercedes outfit.
“It is great to see Valtteri regain his place on the F1 grid for next year,” Wolff said. “He still has so much to offer as a racing driver and deserves to be lining up in Melbourne for the 2026 season.
©Mercedes
“We will of course be sad to see him go. He has played an important role in our team and his contribution as our Third Driver this year has been exemplary.
“For now, we will continue that work until the end of the year before wishing him well for next year and beyond.”
Attention now shifts back to racing as Formula 1 resumes this weekend at Zandvoort. Mercedes enters the Dutch Grand Prix on the back of George Russell’s podium in Hungary, where a switch to an earlier suspension design paid dividends.
Looking ahead, Wolff outlined the team’s dual focus on short-term performance and long-term planning.
“We're ready to get back racing this weekend at Zandvoort,” he said in his team’s Dutch Grand Prix preview.
“We start the run to the end of the season, and this current era of regulations, determined to end both strongly. It will be an intense 10 races as we fight for second in the Constructors' Championship and simultaneously focus on 2026.
“Whilst we won't be bringing any more major developments to this year's car, the progress we made in Hungary gives us a good platform to work with.”
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