Bottas denies Red Bull track, but confirms Mercedes talks

Third driver at Mercedes in 2025, potential rebound in the new Cadillac project in 2026, or even potential replacement for Sergio Perez next year, Valtteri Bottas is at the centre of much discussion as his departure from Sauber was confirmed after the Brazilian Grand Prix.

On the Losail (Qatar) side, Bottas was asked about the possibility of becoming the teammate of Max Verstappen next year on the side of Milton Keynes. " I could see myself in this position, said the 35-year-old pilot. I really believe that I would do a good job, but right now the answer is no. I think there are certain people or a certain person within the organization who is against me for some reason. »

Bottas has however confirmed discussions for a return to Mercedes, the team he worked with from 2017 to 2021, but in a third driver role that he has just left Mick Schumacher to devote oneself Alpine in the World ChampionshipEndurance. " This is a really solid option for me, validated Bottas. Of course, there are still many details to discuss, such as how often I could drive because I want to drive, whether it's testing or something. We're discussing it, but there's no need to rush. »

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