Valtteri Bottas, once Lewis Hamilton’s trusted teammate and a cornerstone of Mercedes’ dominance, has officially been sidelined from the Formula 1 grid for the 2025 season. After a string of underwhelming performances following his departure from the Silver Arrows, the Finnish driver has been left without a seat, signaling a potential end to his time as a full-time F1 competitor.
From Mercedes Star to Sauber Struggles
Bottas burst onto the scene with Mercedes in 2017, stepping into the spotlight following Nico Rosberg’s shocking retirement. Managed by Toto Wolff, Bottas played the perfect supporting role to Hamilton, securing 10 Grand Prix victories and helping the team achieve an unprecedented string of Constructors’ Championships.
But despite moments of brilliance, Bottas was often criticized for his inconsistency. When George Russell began knocking on Mercedes’ door, Bottas’ future with the team became increasingly uncertain. In 2022, Bottas made the leap to Sauber (now Audi), hoping to carve out a new chapter in his career. Instead, it marked the beginning of a steep decline.
The Decline: From Top 10 Contender to Grid Afterthought
Bottas’ first season with Sauber in 2022 showed promise. He finished 10th in the standings with 49 points, consistently outperforming his teammate Zhou Guanyu. However, as Sauber’s car became less competitive, Bottas’ results took a nosedive.
- 2023: Bottas managed just 10 points, finishing a disappointing P15 in the Drivers’ Championship. Sauber’s struggles were evident, and Bottas failed to shine in an underperforming car.
- 2024: Things went from bad to catastrophic. Bottas failed to score a single point and ended the season outside the top 20, marking the first time Zhou Guanyu outperformed him over a season.
This dismal performance left Audi, Sauber’s incoming partner, with little choice but to seek fresh talent for their 2025 project. Bottas and Zhou were both shown the door, replaced by Nico Hulkenberg and McLaren prodigy Gabriel Bortoleto.
No Room on the Grid: Bottas’ Career at a Crossroads
At 35 years old, Bottas found himself out of favor even with smaller teams like Haas and Alpine, both of which opted to gamble on rookies rather than banking on the Finn’s experience. It became clear that Bottas, once a key player in Formula 1, had faded from the grid’s radar.
In a last-ditch effort to stay connected to the sport, Bottas has returned to Mercedes in a reserve driver role for 2025. While this keeps him within the F1 ecosystem and may offer a glimmer of hope for a return in 2026, his fall from grace is undeniable.
A Legacy That’s Hard to Define
Bottas’ story is one of fleeting brilliance and unfulfilled potential. His contributions to Mercedes’ dominance cannot be overlooked—10 race wins and numerous critical performances helped the team clinch Constructors’ Championships. But outside of the Brackley bubble, Bottas struggled to assert himself as a leader or a consistent front-runner.
While his time in Formula 1 may not have ended the way he hoped, Bottas’ return to Mercedes as a reserve driver offers a slim chance to stay relevant. For now, the question remains: can the 10-time race winner find his way back, or is this the final chapter of his F1 journey?
