Valtteri Bottas confirmed on Friday he is poised to return to Mercedes next season as a reserve driver in the wake of Mick Schumacher’s decision to leave the team at the end of the year.
The 35-year-old Finn, who is not being retained by Sauber ahead of their takeover by Audi, told reporters at the Qatar Grand Prix that there was still “a bit of work to do” as he contemplates his future.
He declined to say it was his best option, but added: “It is a really solid option and I really appreciate what Toto (Wolff, Mercedes team chief) said last weekend. There’s still a bit of work to do to finalise some things.
“It’s been a while that I’m now in the situation that I can decide yes or no on some different things so I just want to wait at least few more days, or one or two weeks — probably to get over with the season, then sit down and we’ll see.”
Bottas will be replaced at Sauber-Audi by Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto.
Wolff was quoted last weekend saying he felt it was only “a matter of time” before a reunion with Bottas, who won 10 Grands Prix during his five years at Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton from 2017 to 2021. Bottas has started 243 Grands Prix.
Bottas added: “The priority for me is still F1, I feel like I’m not done yet so I think that to be around, do some testing, gives me a chance for a seat in 2026. In this sport, you just never know what’s going to happen.
“There’s also a new team joining which means two more seats, so it increases the opportunity.”
