BRACKLEY, England — Valtteri Bottas is set to make a comeback with Mercedes as their reserve driver for the upcoming season, as confirmed by the Formula 1 team on Thursday.

Bottas enjoyed a successful stint at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, securing 10 race wins while partnering with Lewis Hamilton. However, this season, he faced difficulties at Sauber, managing to finish without scoring any points. As a result of his performance, the team has opted to replace him and Zhou Guanyu, bringing in experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian talent Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of their transformation into the Audi works team in 2026.

Bottas’ rejoining of Mercedes was made possible after Mick Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, concluded his two-year tenure as the team’s reserve driver.

“I’m thrilled to finally provide an answer to the question that has lingered for the past month,” stated the 35-year-old Finnish driver. “Returning home to the Mercedes family as a third driver for the 2025 season is the next step in my career, and I could not be happier. Although the past few years have presented challenges, I firmly believe I still have a lot to offer to Formula 1.”