Bottas believes that Mercedes will allow him to compete in 2025.

      Valtteri Bottas acknowledges that one of his responsibilities in 2025 will be to act as a "kind of mentor" for Lewis Hamilton’s successor, teenager Kimi Antonelli. Team principal Toto Wolff mentioned this recently, stating that assisting Antonelli will be part of Bottas's role as he returns to Mercedes as a reserve driver after leaving Sauber. "I believe you can see me as a kind of mentor," Bottas, 35, remarked after his lengthy summer vacation in Australia. "As a rookie, there are numerous new concepts to grasp, and I can certainly assist with that."

      The Finnish driver has pledged to be present at every race on the calendar, including all technical meetings with both Antonelli and George Russell. However, similar to Sergio Perez, who is reportedly in discussions with Cadillac, Bottas is also eager to explore opportunities to return to racing. "I am fully committed to the upcoming season, completely dedicated to the team, and I am attempting to support them as much as possible," Bottas stated. "However, if the chance to race comes up, I don’t believe the team would oppose it," he added, following reports that Mercedes-powered McLaren or Williams might call on Bottas as a reserve driver in 2025. "Let’s wait and see what unfolds; let’s get the season started and observe what the next season and 2026 have in store."

      F1 legend Gerhard Berger finds it noteworthy that other veteran F1 drivers in their mid-30s have also unexpectedly declined. "It appears that some of the older drivers like (Daniel) Ricciardo, Bottas, and (Kevin) Magnussen have struggled with these ground effect cars," he shared with Auto Motor und Sport. "I’m not sure if it’s due to the cars themselves or if they’re simply past their peak. The cars are quite well-balanced, and when a young driver enters with fresh enthusiasm, the older drivers face challenges. Only (Fernando) Alonso is performing well, but that’s a unique case."