Valtteri Bottas' return to Mercedes as a reserve driver may involve more racing opportunities than initially expected, with reports suggesting he could be on standby for three Formula 1 teams in 2025 for Merc-customers Williams and McLaren.
The 35-year-old Finn rejoined Mercedes in December after Audi-owned Sauber opted not to extend his contract. Announced as the Brackley squad’s full-time reserve, Bottas expressed his determination to remain in F1, stating: "Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1."
According to several media reports and our own sources, Bottas’ reserve F1 driver duties this season are set to extend beyond Mercedes, as he could also be called upon by customer teams Williams and McLaren if required.
Williams - who Bottas drove for at the start of his career -had originally lined up Franco Colapinto as a potential stand-in, but following the Argentine’s switch to Alpine, their next option—Luke Browning—is not yet considered ready for F1 duties.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s designated reserve, Pato O’Ward, is committed to IndyCar and may not always be available for Grand Prix dates which clash with the U.S. series,
Do the Red Bull teams have an F1 reserve driver problem?
Aston Martin, Mercedes’ other engine customer, has its own full-time reserve in Felipe Drugovich, leaving Bottas focused on Mercedes and its two other affiliated teams.
Elsewhere, Red Bull is reportedly in a more complicated situation. With Liam Lawson promoted to the senior team alongside Max Verstappen, the energy drink-backed squad lacks a clear reserve option.
The expectation is that Yuki Tsunoda, currently racing for Racing Bulls, will step in if either Verstappen or Lawson is unavailable. That move would create an opening at Faenza, with Ayumu Iwasa believed to be the leading candidate to fill Tsunoda’s seat should the need arise.
Before re-engaging in F1 duties, Bottas is set to make his return to Mercedes power in a different category, driving a 1980s-spec DTM touring car at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival just ahead of the 2025 season opener.
The first round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, the Australian Grand Prix takes place on 16 March, with testing before that in Bahrain for three successive days of track time from February 26-28
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