Valtteri Bottas has revealed that Toto Wolff has been very supportive of his career move and cannot wait to return to the F1 grid.
“He was like, we can’t really replace you with another, you know, who’s going to do your job. So, yeah, they’ve been really supportive.”- Valtteri Bottas
Bottas is currently a reserve driver at Mercedes after his stint driving for Sauber.
He returns to the F1 grid driving for 2026’s new team, Cadillac.
Bottas explained how, after years of back and forth with the FIA and F1, Cadillac and Bottas managed to seal the deal.
He said: “Well, we started talking already two years ago with Graeme Lowdon, and he really just kept me up to date [with] what’s going on.
“And then it became quite obvious, very early this year already, that I would be their choice if they could choose the driver. And the more I started to look at options, it became very obvious to me that this is what I want. I want to jump into this project. I’m ready to put my experience to work.”
Bottas revealed that when he had to break the news to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, he was extremely supportive.
He said: “Toto, he’s seen that I miss racing, and he knows how I want to race. And he was like, yeah, he was really happy for me.
“But at the same time, he was like, we can’t really replace you with another, you know, who’s going to do your job. So, yeah, I mean, but it’s cool. They’ve been really supportive.”
What is he looking forward to?
The Finn cannot wait to get back into an F1 car after sitting on the sidelines this past year.
He said: “The biggest thing I’m looking forward to is driving that car for the first time, the race car. It’s the amount of work that has gone in and will go in before January is huge.
“I think it’s going to be a special moment, not just for me, but for the whole team in the UK and in America, when the car is running for the first time. And that’s going to be something really unique.”
How his different roles offered a new perspective
The 10-time grand prix winner claimed that becoming a reserve driver ultimately pushed him outside his normal routine as a driver and allowed him to witness how Mercedes operates behind the scenes.
He said: “You know, after racing 12 years in a row, you kind of get tot the routine of: you turn up, you prepare for the race weekend, you’re going to be in the car.
“But now it’s been different. I’ve still been very involved with everything, but without the driving part.
“So it’s like just watching from the outside. But I’ve actually learned quite a lot.
“I’ve never seen this side of the sport, following everything, a little bit outside the box, which I think it can benefit me in the future, like I’ve really seen how the team actually works behind the scenes, instead of in the car.
“For example, you only have one point of contact normally. But now I hear all the channels, and I see in a big picture what’s happening. So it’s been interesting at the same time, but I miss racing, obviously.”
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