P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It was a year on the sidelines for Valtteri Bottas in 2025, but one which had its advantages.
Valtteri Bottas is heading into his Formula 1 return this season with a newfound sense of knowledge, despite being sidelined by Mercedes for a year. After 13 seasons in F1, Bottas was left without a drive in 2024 but made a comeback as Mercedes’ reserve driver. His time at Mercedes saw him help secure five constructors’ championships alongside Lewis Hamilton. Bottas embraced his reserve role to stay relevant in F1 and seized the opportunity with Cadillac, their confirmed 11th team, alongside Sergio Pérez. Bottas credits his time at Mercedes with expanding his understanding of the sport, team operations, and radio communications, providing valuable insights for his new journey with Cadillac. In an interview with RacingNews365, Bottas highlighted how his broader perspective from working closely with Mercedes will benefit him as he joins a new team starting from scratch.
