P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas is occupying a reserve role at Mercedes for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas has advised rookie F1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto to not be too hard on himself as he prepares for his debut season in 2025. Bortoleto will be driving for Stake F1, taking over from Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. Despite losing his seat, Bottas has returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver for the new season after leaving the team in 2021. With Bortoleto being one of six full-time rookies on the grid this year, there is much excitement surrounding his competitive debut in F1. However, Bottas anticipates challenges for Bortoleto due to Stake F1’s uncompetitive package, as the team only scored four points in 2024. Bottas believes that the lack of significant car changes for the upcoming season may make it tough for Bortoleto in his rookie year, but expects the young driver to handle the pressures well with guidance from experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
