Valtteri Bottas rejoins Mercedes Formula 1 team in 2025 as a reserve driver.
In a significant shift for the Formula 1 landscape, Lewis Hamilton has announced his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season. This decision will see the seven-time world champion vacate his seat at Mercedes-Benz AMG, marking the end of a highly successful era.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas, who was dropped by the Sauber Formula 1 team at the end of the 2024 season, will be returning to Mercedes-Benz AMG. Bottas, who has 10 wins, 20 pole positions, and 67 podium finishes in his career, will be taking up a role as a reserve driver for the team.
The Finnish driver's departure from Sauber paves the way for new talent. Sauber, now owned by Audi, has signed Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto for the 2025 season. Hülkenberg, a seasoned racer with extensive experience, will bring stability, while Bortoleto, a promising newcomer, is set to make his Formula 1 debut.
Sauber's future as a factory team is also set to change, with the team set to become Audi's factory team in 2026. This transition could bring about a new era of success for the team.
The Mercedes-AMG F1 drivers for 2025 will be George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, a rookie in Formula 1, will be making history as the first driver to race for Mercedes with the name Kimi in his surname, in honour of the legendary Finnish driver, Kimi Raikkonen.
The vacant seat at Red Bull Racing, following Red Bull poaching Liam Lawson to replace Sergio Perez, has yet to be filled.
The role of reserve drivers in Formula 1 is crucial, as they contribute to simulator development efforts, test a team's cars to maintain familiarity and readiness, and step in for a team's F1 drivers if they are unable to race.
The future of Zhou Guanyu in F1 remains uncertain, following his dismissal from Sauber. Guanyu, who made his debut in 2021, has yet to secure a seat for the 2025 season.
As the 2025 season approaches, the Formula 1 world eagerly awaits to see how these changes will unfold and what new stories they will bring.
