See him round we’ll, with Bottas set to journey extensively to races with Mercedes subsequent season. It’s all too simple to get forgotten as soon as you allow the paddock, so Bottas’ presence will assist preserve him within the dialog for the racing return he craves in 2026.
He’ll even be returning to a workforce that love him – and with whom he had an unimaginable relationship. That heat, welcoming ambiance will do wonders for his mindset and confidence after the rejection of this season – whereas additionally permitting him to really feel helpful by utilizing his intensive expertise (he’s began 246 Grands Prix) to assist get the workforce again to the sharp finish – having fallen again to P4.
“I simply need to really feel the success once more, I need to really feel the rewards of arduous work,” he mentioned. “We labored arduous for 3 years however there haven’t been that many rewards.
“I really feel like I’m driving in addition to ever, I’m as match as ever – which is why I’m not finished but. When it comes to health, I’m at my peak. I don’t really feel any degradation within the automotive in any sense. So, with the precise ambiance and the precise equipment, I nonetheless imagine I can do nice issues.”
Bottas is satisfied he has one thing to supply a workforce in a racing capability going ahead – and with two additional seats probably out there in 2026 with Cadillac/GM having lately reached an settlement in precept to turn into the eleventh F1 workforce from subsequent yr, the Finn is optimistic we’ll see him again behind the wheel in anger.
“I believe there will probably be alternatives,” he mentioned. “Subsequent yr, who is aware of what occurs, however realistically taking a look at 2026, which must be my goal, issues are nonetheless huge open and we’ve got an eleventh workforce becoming a member of the game, which is actually thrilling.”
