Valtteri Bottas shared a heartfelt message with Mercedes after parting methods with the Brackley outfit.
The Finnish driver had returned to Mercedes for 2025 as a reserve driver after shedding his seat at Sauber on the finish of 2024. Having beforehand pushed for the squad between 2017 and 2021, Bottas claimed his return felt like reuniting together with his household.
After a 12 months out of a full-time seat, Bottas is ready to return to the grid in 2026 with Cadillac, alongside former Crimson Bull driver Sergio Perez, when the American outfit joins the paddock because the eleventh workforce.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked Bottas’s ultimate race weekend with Mercedes. “Thanks, Mercedes,” he posted on social media after the weekend got here to a detailed.
“It was nice to be again with the household this season throughout my ‘hole 12 months’. This workforce at all times has a particular place in my coronary heart, and I actually recognize the chance to be the third driver for the workforce. I now respect the workforce, the game, and each personnel concerned much more than earlier than. Wishing you all the most effective for the long run & see you round quickly!”
Mercedes CEO and workforce principal Toto Wolff gave his full help to Bottas for a return to a full-time seat subsequent 12 months. “It’s nice to see Valtteri regain his place on the F1 grid for subsequent 12 months,” Wolff stated on the time of Bottas signing with Cadillac.
“He nonetheless has a lot to supply as a racing driver and deserves to be lining up in Melbourne for the 2026 season. We are going to in fact be unhappy to see him go. He has performed an vital position in our workforce and his contribution as our third driver this 12 months has been exemplary.”
Cadillac wasted no time in welcoming the 36-year-old driver to the workforce forward of its F1 entry. “The time is now,” the Normal Motors-owned workforce posted.
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