28/08/2025 12:00
Toto Wolff has responded to Valtteri Bottas signing with Cadillac
for the 2026 F1 season to return to a full-time race seat after a
year on the sidelines. The 10-time grand prix winner returned to
Mercedes after losing his Stake drive and has backed up George
Russell and Kimi Antonelli as the Brackley-based team's third
driver. Having secured his F1 future, which will be spent alongside
Sergio Perez at the fledgling American outfit, his boss has voiced
his pride in seeing the Finnish driver return to the grid. Bottas,
one of the most popular figures in the F1 paddock, "deserves" to be
racing, according to Wolff. However, the Austrian admits he will be
"sad" to lose the 35-year-old again, even if it is for the
betterment of his career. He highlighted the "important role"
Bottas has played at the eight-time constructors' champions this
season, where he has also taken on mentoring Kimi Antonelli. The
young Italian, at just 18 years of age, is in his rookie F1 season,
and whilst considered a generational talent, has had to ride a
steep learning curve. Despite signing for Cadillac, Bottas will
continue to perform his duties until the end of the campaign, when
he will switch his full focus to his return to racing, something
Wolff wishes him well for. "It is great to see Valtteri regain his
place on the F1 grid for next year," said the 53-year-old. "He
still has so much to offer as a racing driver and deserves to be
lining up in Melbourne for the 2026 season. "We will of course be
sad to see him go. He has played an important role in our team, and
his contribution as our third driver this year has been exemplary.
"For now, we will continue that work until the end of the year
before wishing him well for next year and beyond."
