Valtteri Bottas rules out Mercedes for next season

Valtteri Bottas is one of the drivers still without a seat for next year’s grid. Many rumors link him to different teams such as Williams or even Sauber, with whom he is committed until the end of the year.

Among the many proposals made, it seems that Valtteri Bottas could have found a place at Mercedes. A proposal that doesn’t seem to attract the Finnish driver.

Ex-Mercedes pilot

It was in 2017 that the Sauber driver, Valtteri Bottas, joined the Mercedes team in Formula 1. While he was with Williams at that time, Nico Rosberg’s departure had allowed him to join the German team alongside Lewis Hamilton. A position he had managed to keep for 5 seasons. At the end of 2021, Alfa Romeo now named Kick Sauber, had announced the driver’s arrival for the 2022 season. A decision that followed two runner-up world championship titles at Mercedes.

Valtteri Bottas, whose contract will end after the 2024 season, now has to find a new spot on the grid. With a move from Sauber to Audi in 2026, the Finn does not appear to want to continue his contract with the team. Sauber’s performances this year seem to be the reason for his choice. With no points scored since the start of the season, the team is the only one that has failed to place in the top 10 so far.

A possible return but refused

During this week, Valtteri Bottas confirmed that he had discussions with Toto Wolff, the director of Mercedes, regarding a possible return to the German team for next season. Following this exchange, Bottas explicitly stated that he was not interested in a contract with the team. A return to Mercedes seemed possible after five years with the team.

Despite this, the driver refuses a contract in which he could return for only one more year, as proposed by Mercedes at the moment. With the desire to hire Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2026, Mercedes seems to be making many enemies, and it seems that the young driver is ultimately the only choice for 2025. “I don’t just want to fill a position for a year, that’s not what I need right now,” explained Valtteri Bottas.

The uncertainty about Bottas’s future is partly due to Mercedes’ negotiations to replace Lewis Hamilton next year. The team seems to be hesitating between different drivers and the time lost greatly impacts the driver market. Bottas is waiting for a decision to be made before he can confirm what he will do with his future.

Valtteri Bottas, who had already experienced short contracts at Mercedes, does not want to repeat the experience. Having a certain security would be nice, but I knew that after three years, the situation could become unstable again. It’s exciting to think about a change, but I would like everything to be resolved quickly so that I can focus on the future.

For the moment, the driver market is still open with a large number of possible transfers before the summer break. Valtteri Bottas, who joins the list of those still looking for a seat, will have to make a decision in the next few weeks if he wants to be sure to keep a place.