Valtteri Bottas also potential replacement for McLaren and Williams?

Do you know what Alex and Albon et Carlos Sainz, apart from their common future at Williams ? Both drivers have missed a Grand Prix in recent years due to appendicitis surgery. Suffering a seizure before the 2022 Italian Grand Prix, Alex Albon was replaced in the Williams by Nyck de Vries, author of a convincing performance (9th) which opened the doors to himAlpha Tauri, former name of the B stable of Red Bull, the following season. Last February, Carlos Sainz was forced to withdraw from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the same reason, which allowed Oliver Bearman to shine brightly on the night in Jeddah (7th).

Fortunately for Williams, its two drivers are now calm regarding this minor medical problem, but the British team could one day find itself faced with the absence of one of its two regular drivers again. Relieved of Franco Colapinto, who left for Alpine, Williams is currently without a reserve player, despite the presence of Luke Browning at Hitech in F2.

Bottas at the disposal of Williams and McLaren?

According to information from racingnews365, this might not be a problem: Grove's stable could benefit, if necessary, from the services of Valtteri Bottas. The Finn returned home Mercedes this winter to occupy the role of reserve driver. With the privileged relations that Williams and Mercedes have, notably through their engine partnership, the former Sauber driver could be made available, as well as for McLaren, which also uses the power unit of the star brand.

If our colleagues assure that nothing has yet been signed between the teams, such an agreement would indeed be under discussion. This formula has already been used over the last two years when Mick Schumacher was Mercedes' third driver. The German notably took part in a test in Portimão with McLaren in 2023, then in another session for Pirelli last year at Silverstone at the wheel of the MCL38, constructors' world champion at the end of the season.

Valtteri Bottas could be an interesting option for Mercedes customer teams in the test sessions thanks to his strong experience in Formula 1 (246 Grands Prix in 12 seasons). In the meantime, the Finn will be busy assisting George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in trying to lift Mercedes to heights more worthy of its rank after the 4th place in 2024 in the constructors' standings, their worst result since 2012.

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