Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Valtteri Bottas doubts Mercedes will block potential external F1 opportunities

by Taylor Powling
5 months ago
A A
1
Valtteri Bottas doubts Mercedes will block potential external F1 opportunities

Valtteri Bottas has returned to Mercedes in a reserve driver role - Credit: Mercedes

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Valtteri Bottas doubts Mercedes would block him from pursuing a permanent comeback to Formula 1 should an opening arise during his second spell with the team.

Having missed out on retaining his previous drive with Sauber to reigning Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, Bottas has been consigned to a period on the sidelines.

The Finn has since reunited with Mercedes, the team he won 10 races with between 2017 and 2021, in a reserve role amid his desire to make a return to the grid in 2026.

However, recent precedence has shown that there is a small chance a seat could open up even earlier than that, with two mid-season changes occurring last time around.

RelatedPosts

Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia F1 Team in the FIA Press Conference. 02.10.2014. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 15, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Preparation Day

10 years on: Remembering Jules Bianchi, modern F1’s biggest ‘what if’

8 hours ago
The heated exchange between Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen reportedly took place at Silverstone

Ex-F1 driver claims Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen came to blows before Red Bull exit

8 hours ago

There were also incidences when race bans and illness ruled drivers out, with Bottas set to be an option that Mercedes customer teams McLaren and Williams can call upon.

Bottas believes there is a shared agreement with Mercedes that he will be allowed to court opportunities that could enhance his prospects of landing a race seat elsewhere.

“I think we both know, me and the team, that there needs to be some kind of… we [have] got to be dynamic,” Bottas told Sky Sports F1.

“Of course I’m fully committed to the year, giving everything I have for the team and trying to help the best I can.

“But if there is an opportunity to race, I doubt the team would stay in between that.

“Let’s see. Let’s take it first race-by-race, get the season started and then we’ll see what the year brings and what ‘26 brings.

Bottas on Cadillac talks

Bottas revealed late last year that he has held tentative talks with Cadillac, the General-Motors-owned team that has an agreement in principle to enter F1 in 2026.

However, the Finn disclosed there has been no progress on that front as the American marque’s attention has been on structuring the team ahead of its impending entrance.

“I think they’ve still been very busy on actually setting up the team, setting the board and all these kind of things,” Bottas addressed.

“So no, nothing yet, it’s a bit too early for that. But we’ll see.”

Mercedes wants Valtteri Bottas and George Russell to coach Kimi Antonelli - Credit: Mercedes
Mercedes wants Valtteri Bottas and George Russell to coach Kimi Antonelli – Credit: Mercedes

Bottas prepared to ‘mentor’ Antonelli

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted the team will be leaning on Bottas to help rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has succeeded Lewis Hamilton, navigate his debut season.

When asked whether he would be serving as a mentor to the Italian, Bottas, who has vast experience with 243 starts to his name, answered: “I think mentor is not too far off.

“When you’re a rookie, when you join the sport, there’s so many new things you got to learn. I can definitely help with that.

“And my job is to help the team the best I can. Of course Kimi is a rookie so he’ll probably have more questions than George [Russell].

However, Bottas has highlighted that his role will also entail helping to develop the German marque’s 2025 machine, the W16, as it strives to get back into title contention.

“The team will have an extra pair of eyes during the race weekend, looking at the data, looking at the driver line and stuff like that,” he added.

“I’ll be involved in all the meetings, technical stuff and can help a lot in the simulator so things like that. So it’s going to be a busy year, a different one for me, but yeah looking forward.”

READ MORE – Mercedes wants Valtteri Bottas to ‘coach’ Kimi Antonelli through debut F1 season

Tags: BottasF1Mercedes
Share255Tweet159Share

Related Posts

Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia F1 Team in the FIA Press Conference. 02.10.2014. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 15, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Preparation Day
Feature

10 years on: Remembering Jules Bianchi, modern F1’s biggest ‘what if’

8 hours ago
The heated exchange between Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen reportedly took place at Silverstone
Formula 1

Ex-F1 driver claims Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen came to blows before Red Bull exit

8 hours ago
McLaren tested the new floor upgrade during FP1 at Silverstone
Formula 1

McLaren set to introduce new floor upgrade after promising F1 British GP tests

10 hours ago
Load More

Comments 1

  1. Silence Serum says:
    3 weeks ago

    Obtain High was chosen by an elite subset of defense planners to pilot human potential enhancement through plant neurochemistry.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August
15Dutch GP29-31 August
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri234
Lando Norris226
Max Verstappen165
George Russell147
Charles Leclerc120
Lewis Hamilton103
Andrea Kimi Antonelli63
Alexander Albon44
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar28

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia F1 Team in the FIA Press Conference. 02.10.2014. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 15, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Preparation Day
Feature

10 years on: Remembering Jules Bianchi, modern F1’s biggest ‘what if’

July 17, 2025
The heated exchange between Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen reportedly took place at Silverstone
Formula 1

Ex-F1 driver claims Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen came to blows before Red Bull exit

July 17, 2025
McLaren tested the new floor upgrade during FP1 at Silverstone
Formula 1

McLaren set to introduce new floor upgrade after promising F1 British GP tests

July 17, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd