Source – Formula1.com
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival organizers have revealed that Valtteri Bottas will make a comeback to the wheel of Mercedes machinery in early March.
Valtteri Bottas is set to make a significant return to Mercedes for the 2025 Formula 1 season, rejoining the Silver Arrows as their reserve driver after a challenging stint with Kick Sauber. At 35, the experienced Finn will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role, providing crucial support to George Russell and rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli. This marks a poignant homecoming for Bottas, who spent five successful seasons with Mercedes, amassing 10 Grand Prix victories and playing an integral role in the team’s record-breaking dominance in the Constructors’ Championship alongside Lewis Hamilton.
For Bottas, this return is more than just a professional move—it is a reconnection to a place where he experienced some of the most triumphant moments of his career. Reflecting on his Mercedes comeback, Bottas expressed his enthusiasm and renewed sense of purpose: “Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1. Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport. I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far. As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.”
Bottas’ return to Mercedes coincides with his role as an ambassador for the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, where he will take to the track in the iconic DTM race-winning Mercedes 190E. Scheduled to participate in the Touring Car Legends category on Sunday, March 9, Bottas will be at the center of the action just a week before the highly anticipated season-opening Australian Grand Prix. This event will not only serve as a celebration of motorsport history but also as a symbolic nod to Bottas’ enduring connection with the Mercedes brand.
The Adelaide Motorsport Festival will be a star-studded affair, featuring a host of notable F1 figures. Among them are Australian legends Alan Jones, the 1980 World Champion, and David Brabham, as well as 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, multiple Grand Prix winner Thierry Boutsen, and charismatic former team principal Guenther Steiner. F1 commentator David Croft will also add his voice to the festivities, ensuring fans are fully immersed in the event’s vibrant atmosphere.
For Bottas, this return to Mercedes is more than just a professional appointment; it is a chance to reignite his passion and reaffirm his place in the world of Formula 1. After three tumultuous seasons with Sauber, the Finn now finds himself back in familiar territory, eager to contribute to Mercedes’ pursuit of championship glory. As he steps back into the team that defined so much of his career, Bottas carries with him the lessons of the past, the excitement of the present, and the determination to shape a bright future.
