Bottas Predicts Mercedes F1’s Comeback to the Top

Bottas: Mercedes F1 Set to Reclaim Front-Runner Status

15/01/2025

Valtteri Bottas believes Mercedes F1 is overcoming struggles and poised to rejoin the leading pack, signaling an end to its tough cycle.

Valtteri Bottas has no concerns about Mercedes F1’s long-term future. Having returned to the team as a reserve and third driver for the 2025 season, he is confident the team has moved past its rough patch and will find its way back to the front.

“Yes, I think, like everyone, I may not have expected the difficulties they’ve faced since. But yes, this sport goes through cycles,” Bottas told Motorsport Week. “Now, I feel there are signs indicating they’re on their way back.”

“Sometimes they deliver great performances, but they’re still very track-dependent. However, I know how much Toto wants to return to winning. I think they’ll eventually get there.”

Bottas doesn’t hide that he hopes this role at Mercedes could reopen the door to a full-time F1 seat with one of the German manufacturer’s customer teams: “Of course, I have to try to think about what’s best for me, and that’s a valid point.”

“There are many Mercedes-powered cars on the grid that could suddenly provide opportunities. And in this sport, you never know what might happen. There’s also 2026, when things could shift. I think I’m still ready to stay in the game, so to speak, and try to find a way back.”

Bottas Predicts Mercedes F1’s Comeback to the Top Bottas Predicts Mercedes F1’s Comeback to the Top

Full 2025 F1 testing results

Carlos Sainz
1
CARLOS
SAINZ
Leader
Lewis Hamilton
2
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+0.031s
Charles Leclerc
3
CHARLES
LECLERC
+0.083s
George Russell
4
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+0.197s
Max Verstappen
5
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.218s
Alex Albon
6
ALEX
ALBON
+0.302s
Kimi Antonelli
7
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+0.436s
Oscar Piastri
8
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+0.592s
Pierre Gasly
9
PIERRE
GASLY
+0.692s
Lance Stroll
10
LANCE
STROLL
+0.881s
Liam Lawson
11
LIAM
LAWSON
+0.904s
Jack Doohan
12
JACK
DOOHAN
+1.020s
Yuki Tsunoda
13
YUKI
TSUNODA
+1.149s
Isack Hadjar
14
ISACK
HADJAR
+1.327s
Fernando Alonso
15
FERNANDO
ALONSO
+1.352s
Esteban Ocon
16
ESTEBAN
OCON
+1.380s
Lando Norris
17
LANDO
NORRIS
+1.534s
Gabriel Bortoleto
18
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
+1.709s
Nico Hulkenberg
19
NICO
HULKENBERG
+2.109s
Oliver Bearman
20
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+3.013s

Testing Total Distance Covered by Team

1
Mercedes
458
2
Haas
457
3
Racing Bulls
454
4
Alpine
405
5
Williams
395
6
Ferrari
382
7
McLaren
381
8
Sauber
354
9
Aston Martin
306
10
Red Bull
304
Race Center
Australia Flag
Australian GP
13 Mar - 16 Mar
FP1
14 MAR 01:30
FP2
14 MAR 05:00
FP3
15 MAR 01:30
QU
15 MAR 05:00
RACE
16 MAR 04:00
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race
Date
Australian Flag
Australian
Albert Park
16 Mar
Chinese Flag
Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japanese Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
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