Bottas refuses to rule out Mercedes F1 return

Valtteri Bottas has refused to rule out the possibility of a return to the Mercedes F1 team – should he be dropped by Stake.

Outside of the Red Bull ecosystem, the Stake seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg is the only vacancy on the grid for 2025.

An announcement was expected in the autumn break. Still, Stake boss Mattia Binotto is taking time to evaluate other candidates, including Mick Schumacher, Williams racer Franco Colapinto and F2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto.

Bottas was a Mercedes driver between 2017 and 2021, and although the team has confirmed its race drivers as George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli for next year, 10-time grand prix winner Bottas believes there could be a place in the “Mercedes family” if he is not retained.

“Firstly, my priority is to stay as a race driver, that is what I want, and that is what we are pushing for with Mattia,” Bottas explained to F1.com.

“But of course, I don’t have anything signed, we are in October and I’ve got to look at all the alternatives.

“That includes going back to the Mercedes family. That is one option and I would consider it, but there are other options as well. 

“But my priority is to be a race driver in Formula 1.”

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