Valtteri Bottas May Return to Mercedes

Valtteri Bottas is anticipated to return to Mercedes as a reserve driver following his departure from the now-Audi-bound Sauber team, where he was unable to secure a contract extension due to differing expectations on deal length. Sauber has confirmed that Bottas and his teammate Zhou Guanyu will leave the team, with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto set to partner Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 season. Following the announcement, Mercedes posted a nostalgic photograph of Bottas on social media, fueling speculation about his potential return. Bottas has expressed excitement for his future and hinted at a desire to rejoin Mercedes, where he previously achieved significant success. While Bottas has not finalized his next steps, he remains optimistic about the opportunities ahead, emphasizing that 'when one door closes, another one opens'.