Valtteri Bottas is inching closer to a deal to become Mercedes’ reserve driver in 2025. Bottas will leave Sauber after this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and has not secured a race seat in Formula 1 for next season.

Valtteri Bottas says he is nearing an agreement to return to Mercedes as its reserve driver next year after Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, announced he was leaving.

Ahead of the Qatar GP, the veteran driver spoke about his future in F1 and what his motorsports moves in 2025 could be.

Having been replaced at Sauber for the 2025 Formula 1 season by Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Valtteri Bottas is likely to return to Mercedes as a reserve but also plans to race at one event

Valtteri Bottas will compete at next year’s Race of Champions as he eyes new racing opportunities after missing out on an F1 seat for next year. Bottas, who has been an ever-present on the F1 grid since 2013, has been dropped by Sauber for 2025 with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto replacing the Finn and Zhou Guanyu.

Valtteri Bottas is plotting a comeback to the Formula 1 grid in 2026 and that could come with the new Cadillac entry. After initial resistance from Formula One Management to the union of Andretti Global and Cadillac joining the F1 grid,

DOHA–Mercedes reserve Mick Schumacher will leave the Formula One team at the end of the season and Valtteri Bottas looks set to replace the German after deciding against making a full-time switch to IndyCar in 2025.