Valtteri Bottas, a seasoned Formula 1 campaigner and 10-time Grand Prix winner, is showing clear signs of a potential comeback to the sport’s competitive grid. The 35-year-old Finnish driver was recently spotted behind the wheel during a private Testing of Previous Car (TPC) session with Mercedes at the iconic Jerez circuit in Spain.
Bottas completed 113 laps on the first day of the test and hinted at further running in a social media post, writing: “113 laps in the bag today. More tomorrow.” This marks a significant milestone in his preparation to re-enter Formula 1, either for the 2025 season or under the new technical regulations in 2026.
Comeback hopes rising amid Cadillac and Alpine interest
After parting ways with Sauber at the end of last season, Bottas returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver for 2025. But he’s not settling for a background role. Valtteri Bottas has publicly expressed his desire to reclaim a race seat, and interest in his services is heating up.
Two teams appear to be in serious contention for the Finnish driver: the incoming Cadillac F1 Team, backed by American giant General Motors, and Alpine, who are eyeing Bottas as a possible replacement for Franco Colapinto, whose performances have been underwhelming since replacing Jack Doohan.
Sources close to the matter have confirmed that Bottas has held “positive talks” with both teams. A video recently posted by Bottas, in which he examines a Cadillac road car and quips, “Oh wow, that’s actually a nice seat. I wouldn’t mind…”, has only fueled the speculation.
Toto Wolff backs Valtteri Bottas' return
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has weighed in on the rumors, stating that Valtteri Bottas has received growing interest across the paddock.
“I saw [Flavio Briatore] today and we talked about Valtteri. It seems that the interest in Valtteri is increasing even more,” Wolff revealed at the British Grand Prix.
“He deserves that seat. If someone grabs him as a race driver, we’ll let him go – of course with a tear in the corner of our eye.”
Wolff emphasized that while Bottas has Mercedes’ full support as a reserve driver, the final decision lies with him and his management.
“Ultimately, I give him advice as a friend. Valtteri ultimately makes the choice with his management. I try to stay in the background,” Wolff added.
Bottas’ momentum continues
Earlier this year, Bottas also conducted a TPC session with McLaren, another Mercedes engine customer. These steady efforts underline Valtteri Bottas's commitment to staying race-ready and keeping himself in the frame for an F1 return.
Meanwhile, Cadillac F1 is also reportedly in advanced talks with Sergio Perez for a 2026 seat, though no official announcement is expected in the immediate future.
Whether he lands with Cadillac, Alpine, or a surprise team, Bottas’s recent activity signals that he’s not done with Formula 1 yet — and the paddock is watching closely.