Mercedes boss Toto Wolff revealed that Valtteri Bottas was close to making an unexpectedly early Formula 1 comeback at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Finn is in final preparations to make his full return to the sport with Cadillac next year, having signed on a multi-year deal alongside fellow Sergio Perez.
But until then, Bottas remains the German marque’s reserve driver, which places him on standby to replace any driver who might be unable to race.
The 35-year-old, therefore, was very much on the horizon as illness put George Russell on the precipice of withdrawing from the event.
After missing Thursday’s media day, the Brit partook in free practice on Friday, but was noticed for sounding particularly unwell over team radio.
But Russell rallied, managed to qualify in fifth place and finished an impressive second, despite his health yet to return fully.
After the race, Wolff revealed just how close Bottas came to making what would have likely been one final hurrah for the ‘silver arrows’.
“Very impressive, considering that on Friday morning it was touch and go whether Valtteri would be in the car.
“It was George himself that said, ‘I’m not sure I can do it’. Then he recovered a little bit in the morning and decided to be in the car, and then every day he went strong.
“Doing a one-and-a-half-hour race here in Baku, not putting a single foot wrong on both tyres, that was a super merited P2.”
Russell had noted that his decision to race was partly down to Baku City Circuit being less physically demanding than other tracks on the calendar.
“Fortunately, it was Baku,” he said. “Even though it’s one of the toughest circuits mentally. Physically, it’s maybe one of the easiest.
“Today I was much better. Friday and Saturday, I was really rough.”
READ MORE – How ‘mega’ George Russell scored F1 Azerbaijan GP podium despite illness
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