P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas doubts Mercedes would block him from pursuing a permanent comeback to F1 should an opening arise during his second spell with the team.
Bottas missed out on retaining his drive with Sauber and is currently on the sidelines, but has reunited with Mercedes in a reserve role. He aims to return to the grid in 2026 or potentially even earlier if an opportunity arises due to precedents of mid-season changes. Mercedes customer teams McLaren and Williams could call upon Bottas in case of race bans or illnesses affecting their drivers. Bottas and Mercedes have an agreement allowing him to explore other race seat opportunities that may arise. Additionally, Bottas has held talks with Cadillac about their potential entry into F1 in 2026, although no progress has been made yet on that front. He will also support rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and assist in the development of Mercedes’ 2025 car, the W16, as part of his role with the team.
