Exploring Bottas' Prospects: A Shot at Mercedes Power in 2025?
Jan.29 - Valtteri Bottas' chances of returning to the Formula 1 grid this year may be three times higher than was initially thought.
Just before Christmas, with Audi-owned Sauber having opted against extending its race deal with the Finn, Mercedes announced that Bottas was returning to Brackley to be the full-time reserve driver in 2025.
"Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know I've still got so much more to contribute to F1," he said at the time.
The 35-year-old, currently holidaying and cycling in Australia, will mark his return to Mercedes power by driving an 80s-spec DTM touring car at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival just before the 2025 season opener.
And it's now being reported that Bottas could have triple the chances of actually racing with Mercedes F1 power in 2025, as he's also on stand-by for Mercedes customer teams Williams and McLaren.
According to Speed Week, following Franco Colapinto's move to Alpine, the next in line at Williams - Luke Browning - is not ready for F1 reserve duties.
Meanwhile, McLaren's preferred reserve, Pato O'Ward, is often not available as he is also an Indycar driver. Mercedes-powered Aston Martin, on the other hand, has its own full-time reserve, Felipe Drugovich.
Red Bull, though, finds itself in a more difficult situation, with Liam Lawson having stepped up from his earlier reserve duties to race first with Racing Bulls in 2024 and now as Max Verstappen's teammate at the senior team.
As a result, it is believed Yuki Tsunoda will be pulled from his Racing Bulls cockpit this year in case Verstappen or Lawson are unable to race - with Ayumu Iwasa tipped to then fill the void at the Faenza based outfit.
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Tsunoda's double role is no different from Bearman's, although his & Iwada's days in the Red Bull organization are still numbered until the next Abu Dhabi GP.
On the other hand, Bottas being available also for McLaren is no different from Mick or Stoffel when they were regular Mercedes reserve drivers.
Mercedes reserve drivers have tended to be shared reserve drivers only for McLaren rather than all PU customers simultaneously, so Bottas' shared availability for Williams would be different in this regard, but at least Williams would likewise receive a safe temporary substitute if either Albon or Sainz required one-off substitution.
However, despite all these reserve driver aspects, Bottas could theoretically even become a full-time Mercedes driver again in some scenarios if Antonelli totally flopped since his readiness to compete in F1 yet is questionable.
For his sake, I hope he won't fail after being handed such a great opportunity.
Who is Mercs 2nd reserve driver?
Frederik Vesti
So if VB is needed at Mcl or Williams for one,two races or 2/3rds of the season if a disaster occurs, that leaves Torgers team of the century very exposed, not a very good situation with another beginner at the wheel, it cant happen? This is F1 anythings possible
Indeed
Why the hell would VB want to go back to Mercedes just to let them destroy him again, sir Lulu's best wingman & he said it & they dumped him,, why would he go unless he he gets triple pay packet.
No better offer
There is no better team than Mercedes, they are the bench mark in F1.
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Correction, no OTHER offer
VB Still has a 5 place grid penalty to serve at his next GP. Any team that borrows him will also take on his extra baggage, doubt he will ever get another chance now he's finished.
I'd briefly forgotten about that, but yes, either McLaren or Williams would indeed suffer if he substituted for either one of their drivers.
Sorry I have to laugh or ill cry surely penaltys aren't carried on from one team to another.
Penalties indeed are carried over through team changes, as they always solely apply to 'F1 races', so the team aspect is irrelevant.
Therefore, Bottas would serve the five-place grid penalty he received for causing the collision with Magnussen in the Abu Dhabi GP if he substituted for either Mercedes, McLaren, or Williams driver at any point in the upcoming season or alternatively in the first 2026 GP if he returned to being a full-time driver with Andretti without doing any substitutions this year.
Jere I love reading your posts but I can't make out if your a fan or an official, I think your an official can you confirm.
Just a fan, but I wish I were an official, though.
I never thought anyone would think me this way.
I generally just tend to post matters by the word or implication, so I guess this aspect can sometimes give a misleading idea.
'think about me this way' - I forgot to add 'about' in the mix.
And im "official-ly something" unprintable according to some, but I dont worry about the loonies
Your OK Shropp.
Hope not!
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