Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has suggested that Mercedes brought Valtteri Bottas back as a reserve driver to provide a backup option in case their rookie driver, Kimi Antonelli, underperforms. Bottas, who previously raced for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021 and contributed to multiple Constructors’ Championships, was replaced by George Russell at the end of the 2021 season and subsequently joined Sauber (soon to be Audi in 2026).
After Lewis Hamilton’s surprising departure from Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season, Bottas was re-signed by the team as a reserve driver. Sauber had opted for Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto for their 2025 lineup, leaving Bottas available. Montoya commented that Bottas serves as a “safety net” for Mercedes if Antonelli, dubbed the “next Max Verstappen,” does not meet expectations in his rookie season. Montoya explained that Antonelli will face significant pressure, especially with George Russell performing at a high level, and Bottas’ presence ensures Mercedes has an experienced driver to fall back on if needed.
Kimi Antonelli is set to race full-time for Mercedes in 2025 alongside Russell in what will be the young Italian driver’s first season in Formula 1.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff highlighted Bottas’ extensive experience and valuable technical expertise as key factors in bringing him back to the team. Wolff emphasized that Bottas had played a vital role in Mercedes’ past successes and described him as a popular and well-respected team member. Wolff believes Bottas’ input will be instrumental in helping Mercedes compete for championships and support both Russell and Antonelli.
During his earlier tenure with Mercedes, Bottas achieved ten race victories and developed a reputation as a reliable and skilled driver. Despite his experience, it is unlikely he will see competitive track action on race weekends in his new reserve role. However, his presence within the team could position him as a viable candidate for other teams, including General Motors, which plans to enter Formula 1 as an 11th team in 2026.
Bottas experienced a challenging 2024 season, finishing 22nd in the standings with no points for the first time in his career. Although he consistently outperformed his Sauber teammate Guanyu Zhou in both qualifying and races, Zhou managed to score the team’s only four points of th
e season.